Shul's out for the Summer
- Thomas Tittmann
- Apr 5, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 17, 2023
STAR DATE: PESACH (Passover) 2023 (4/5/23)
Yesterday, as I was out walking in the warm sun around my West Hempstead neighborhood - clad only in a t-shirt...
: )))
That is, above my waist - I passed a lot of school-aged children PLAYING...and very animatedly. Many sported yarmulkes, as our town has a lot of Jewish families and congregations.
As the musical and punning parts of me were under a 70 degree summer spell, I must have also channeled Alice Cooper and mused "Shul's out for the Summer."
So, let's see where this meandering takes us...FYI - If you came here to hear Alice...she's below deck in DETENTION...
LIVE FROM NEW YORK (Brooklyn variety:))) IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT!
Shul: The word “synagogue” is the Greek parallel to the Hebrew term beit knesset, “house of gathering.” It is also referred to as a shul, a Yiddish word related to the English word “school,” thus named since Torah is studied there as well. Synagogues can be found virtually wherever there are Jews and have been in use since the Babylonian exile.
Shul’s Out Forever? Millennials Customize and Curate Faith To Create Their Own Judaism - By Debra Nussbaum Cohen (Haaretz) for Forward
--interesting perspectives on how younger generations are finding new and creative ways to practice their faith TOGETHER.
(From opening paragraph) New York’s Jews are finding creative new ways to connect with Judaism independent of synagogues – from musical Shabbats for young families in an upscale Brooklyn condo building to pot luck suppers and lots of singing with hundreds of 20- and 30-somethings around the corner; and from a monthly Ecstatic Mincha that pairs dancing with prayer to a private Kol Nidre service for Russian families on the Upper East Side.
This article introduced me to the Baal Shem Tov - the 18th-century founder of Hasidism - depicted below in the next three images:
DRESSING FOR PRAYER
--exploring the traditional garment used while in prayer
As with other faith traditions, there is room for personal expression...for a personal appreciation of the Great Mystery...
...Blending Rasta dreds and Hebrew threads (the strings are called "tzizit).
--see Rally Rabbi article below for mention of "Jewmaican"
Come, Mr. Tallit Man, tally me banana!
Please allow me some "unOrthodox" but holy artistic license...
--don't be fooled by this young man's age or the guy wearing the banana tallit...as there's a lot of wisdom to be found...Listen in...
WHAT FOLLOWS SCHOOL? SUMMER CAMP!
THOSE WHO FAIL HISTORY ARE DESTINED TO REPEAT IT...IN SUMMER SHUL...
Ah! But you're in for a treat...Rabbi Tuckman will be your teacher...
Here's his CV (curriculum vitae):
PREPARING FOR SUMMER SHUL: HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
If you study and do well, you'll earn a field trip to a baseball game...where your host will be a special Rabbi known as the "Frisco Kid" - see below...
YOU GOT DETENTION AFTER SCHOOL...WITH ALICE...
Student-made video...
And the teachers countered with...
BASEBALL'S A DEAD SPORT...
Berkeley, CA — He hangs out with rock stars, cruises the city on a three-wheeled “Mitzvah Bike” and blows the shofar to rally crowds at major league ball games. It’s all a far cry from Crown Heights, where this spiritual leader earned his rabbinic ordination.
See this "Grate" article for more innings...
And now for something completely different...BUT, from another ON-HIGH authority already part of this post...
SCHOOL'S A DEAD END...SO, LET'S TAKE A FIELD TRIP TO THE DEAD ANIMAL FARM...
In Camp Granada, Allen mentions a few animals that have been seen at Grateful Dead shows...(Remember, I asked for an artistic license)...
Alligators
Bears
Aunt Bertha
ALLIGATOR
Song:
BEARS
Again, the Band never did a song about these furry, dancin' critters, but that didn't stop them from becoming a major Dead icon...This tune can be used to introduce our next generations to the Grateful Dead. To this point, I wear my dancing bears whenever I'll be around children...
In the spirit of the Old Testament commands in Dueteronomy and Exodus...
...Tie them as a PHILactery...
(bassist Phil Lesh)
Song:
About:
BERTHA
Song:
About:
According to Grateful Dead "theologian/historian" David Dodd, he recalls some folklore about this song's origins:
As a cool fan, here's my take on it...from a series of posts from 2022's "Jerry Garcia Week" celebrations.
MORE PASSOVER
--"What's different about this night?" Why, spending it on Sesame Street...
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