New musical horizons

Whenever I meet a fellow respiratory patient the topic of oxygen providers inevitably comes up, and I have yet to find anyone who is completely happy with the service they have. I started with a company called American Oxygen and they were so unreliable that after a couple of years I decided to take my chances with another company. Lincare has provided my oxygen needs for the past five years or so, and I have a great relationship with Reuben, the fellow who is assigned to this area. However, the Lincare office is not very well organized, so they can only give me a fairly wide window for arrival, which means I am often stuck at home all day on Thursdays, the day they make deliveries in this area. Aggravating as this is for me, it is a source of great frustration to Reuben, who bears the brunt of clients who take out their annoyance with the office management on him. Lincare used to have a location not far from here where we could just drive and pick up oxygen ourselves, but they closed that office, leaving the nearest one in New Jersey. Unless we want to spend anywhere from 1-3 hours driving there,  I am completely at the mercy of their schedule.

For that reason, although there are two very interesting classes at Hebrew Institute on Thursday mornings, I only attend them sporadically. I had gotten oxygen last week so was free yesterday and went to both. The classes are generally attended by senior citizens, some well into their 80s, most of them women. They are an impressively knowledgeable and engaged group.

The first Thursday morning class is a text-based course taught by Senior Rabbi Steven Exler on The Book of Kings. Rav Steven is an enthusiastic teacher and has attracted quite a devoted group of regular attendees to his classes.

The second course, taught by Rabbi Ari Hart, is called “The Torah of Music: Exploring Jewish Musical Traditions, From the Tanach* to Today.” I have only learned with Rav Ari a couple of times but today was really special. I don’t know what he has covered over the past months since the course began, but this morning he covered two songs composed and recorded by contemporary Israeli artists.

The first is called “Tefillah HaChiloni,” “Prayer of the Secular,” written and performed by Kobi Oz, a man who has clearly struggled with his relationship to Jewish tradition. Mr. Oz is an equal opportunity critic, finding fault with both secular and all shades of religious (Haredi (Ultra Orthodox), modern (“National”) Orthodox, and Reform) Jews and offering hope that we can come together and focus on praying for peace. Some in the class found his words offensive, but I think that if we are honest with ourselves we must all own some of his criticism.

The second song, written and performed by Eviatar Banai, is called “Aba,” “Father.” This piece is as much a prayer as it is a song. “Father, I want to be sure with all my heart that this journey I’m taking has a happy end.” What more beautiful prayer can there possibly be?

Father, I want to stand here before you

And believe you’re a good Father

Father, I need to know that you love me

Just like this (for no reason), my good Father

Father, I want to be sure with all my heart

That this journey I am taking has a happy end

That whatever I encounter in the way

Will turn weakness into great strength

Father, I want to return to me

And find you here with me

In my origin I am purely good

And there, only there, I believe in myself

My dove in the clefts of the rock

Let me hear your voice

Sing me a song, a new song

That will light up my heart and my cords.

Have a safe and peaceful weekend.

Love,

Rebecca

*Torah (five books of Moses), Navi (prophets), and Chetuvim (writings)