By the time I had reached my 40’s, I had managed to keep a really big secret suppressed, you know the type of secret I’m talking about, a secret that is so scary it can’t come out and in reality everyone already knows.
I’m Jewish.
In ancient times, God created Adam. Adam begot Seth. Seth begot Enosh. And after a few 100 generations, Morris begot Sam and Sam begot me. There were no known intermarriages in my family. Like a pedigree dog show champion Pomerianian, I am…
A pure bred Jew.
And I guess it shows. When the Seattle Men’s Chorus Director was looking for Jewish people to help fund a program on that lighthearted Jewish issue, the Holocaust, he sent me a letter. I had hardly talked to him and out of 300 fabulous men in the Chorus, I didn’t think he knew who I was, yet somehow, he could sense my… Jewishness… because, I am…
A pure bred Jew.
Modern molecular biology can analyze the DNA inside sub cellular organs called mitochondria and that mitochondrial DNA is passed from mother to mother. In Jewish people, it can be traced back to 7 mitochondrial mothers in pre-history. Not much is known about these ancient mothers except that all 7 of them were neurotic and all 7 of them wanted their children to be doctors. I’m a doctor. I’m neurotic.
I am a pure bred Jew.
I haven’t stepped into a Temple in 30 years. I don’t subscribe to Jewish religious beliefs yet a song from Passover meals celebrated during my childhood still resonates with me. The song “Dayenu” recounts everything that God has done for us Jews and how each thing He has done should have been enough for us to believe in Him. The word Dayenu is a refrain that means “it would have been enough for us.” So an example of a verse of the song, If he had brought us out of Egypt, it would have been enough.” If he had slain their first born, it would have been enough.” “If he had brought us into the Land of Israel, it would have been enough.” It was never enough for us though.
I think the song is about taking a hint. Apparently, my Jewish ancestors needed a lot of hinting to get it. Like them, I have also needed a lot of hinting to get it. In my 30’s and 40’s I was very busy on my mission of humiliation avoidance via creating astounding successes. But every pursuit for a success seemed to result in injury. For example, I was on my to a Karate black belt and got a knee injury. I was swimming a mile a day and got shoulder tendonitis. I practiced guitar for so many hours that I got carpal tunnel syndrome. What was being hinted at by all those injuries? I wonder. Perhaps, pursuing success in order to avoid humiliation was a bad idea. Nah…
Just as my ancestors immortalized their poor listening skills with the Dayenu song, let’s celebrate mine. This is the sing along portion of the show. For those of you who are still ruminating on the squirming in humiliation part of the program, this could be it for you. I’ll do the verses and you can join me on the refrains. I’m going to sing your part by myself and then have you join me so we all know that you know it. You can see by the slide there aren’t too many words to it. So here we go, first me alone. (sings it solo). Then everybody (tutti)
Dai, da-ye-nu,
Dai, da-ye-nu,
Dai, da-ye-nu,
Da-ye-nu, da-ye-nu, da-ye-nu!
Dai, da-ye-nu
Dai, da-ye-nu
Dai, da-ye-nu
Da-ye-nu, da-ye-nu!
All I really wanted was to
Have some fun and be all happy
Maybe tried a little hard. Dayenu
Karate black belt are so cool
I wanted to be one so bad
Worked out twice a week until I broke my knee.
Dai, da-ye-nu,
Dai, da-ye-nu,
Dai, da-ye-nu,
Da-ye-nu, da-ye-nu, da-ye-nu!
Dai, da-ye-nu
Dai, da-ye-nu
Dai, da-ye-nu
Da-ye-nu, da-ye-nu!
Other people swim a mile
I can do that with a smile
Shoulder rotator cuff problems, Dayenu.
Tried to learn guitar in one year
Practiced every day 2 hours
Tendonitis, Carpal tunnel, Dayenu.
Dai, da-ye-nu,
Dai, da-ye-nu,
Dai, da-ye-nu,
Da-ye-nu, da-ye-nu, da-ye-nu!
Dai, da-ye-nu
Dai, da-ye-nu
Dai, da-ye-nu
Da-ye-nu, da-ye-nu!
Started singing in Church Choir
Big Bass Voice I thought required
Chronic Cough, Throat pain, dayenu.
Downhill skiing I’m confident
Keep up with teen exchange student
Hernatied lumbar disc, Dayenu.
Dai, da-ye-nu,
Dai, da-ye-nu,
Dai, da-ye-nu,
Da-ye-nu, da-ye-nu, da-ye-nu!
Last time !!!
Dai, da-ye-nu
Dai, da-ye-nu
Dai, da-ye-nu
Da-ye-nu, da-ye-nu!
