Once a year I go out to Great Neck and celebrate Yom Kippur at the home of my octogenarian dad and companion. I generally hang out with my niece and newphew who are teenagers - and we're sort of the bad ones in the room - laughing and giggling about something or other.
My niece is always amazed to find out that I'm the oldest of the three kids. "You act like the youngest." And I say to her and my 12 year old nephew: It's true that in actual years I am the eldest. You should respect me for that - even if
I am mentally challenged!"
More laughter from them.
Being the elder, I tell stories about how bad I was as a kid - in fact all the awful things I did to other kids. And they are in stitches because they are so used to adults being serious - especially at such somber gatherings.
I tell the story of how my father bought me a chemistry set so that I COULD BE SMART (Jerry Lewis face). How I discovered that if you burnt sulphur you could bottle the vapor - and how I got it into a bottle and wrote "perfume" on it when I was ten years old and went around to everyone asking them to smell it. And as we're laughing about it - several of the senior citizens move closer: "I want to sit here - where you are having so much fun!"
One thing leads to another and eventually everyone - those in their 90's and 80's are telling about the
bad things they did a long time ago.
We're seated in a circle. The memories and tears of laughter flow. The kids - teenagers really - are still too inhibited to tell their own stories - after all their parents are around. But hearing how their grandparents and parents acted - is very freeing.
Now this is Yom Kippur - which is a very holy Jewish holiday - and eventually the discussion turns to the meaning of the holiday - and the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur - and how the Jews believe that this is a time for contemplation of your sins and that religious Jews believe it is a time when your name is written
or not written in the book of life for the next year. In other words - if God doesn't write your name in the book for next year - you don't have much of a chance.
Onwards into a discussion about the nature of God and man and the trauma in the world; free-will and the mystery of God's intentions and how is it that babies are killed in natural disasters before they've even had a chance to do anything wrong.
We're not all Jewish in my family circle. My extended family: Moslems, Christians, Jews, and I think one Hindu (though I'm not sure about him as he never talks). But onto original sin (which I don't think Jews believe in) but we all talk it to death and then my father says: The main thing is that we all try to do some good in the New Year. He brings up politics. Groups. Working together for good.
Political groups, I say. Do you really think that political groups are helpful? The real problem, I continue (jaws are dropping) is that man is basically a sort of hybrid between animal and something slightly higher - but more dangerous - and that when you stick him in a group his dark nature only gets magnified and intensified. I go on to mention Stalin, Hitler, the Inquisition and some other instances where people submerge their better nature in groupthink.
My sister is very political - a progressive - involved in various left wing movements.
And I say - do you remember, sis - many years ago - when you said that if you ever got into power - you'd have me rehabilitated!
I never said that, she screams.
Yes, you did. We were sitting around in the coffee shop - you remember. I was trying to get a date with that friend of yours - what was here name? and you said that if your group got into power you'd have me rehabilitated. You know what that means: Ye olde Mental Hospital!
Don't listen to him - she screams. Did you know he was a philosophy major in college!!! Yes - he was. He's just trying to 'cause trouble. And you know what, she continues - after hearing how this discussion has gone - I think you
are in need of some mental therapy! You need to get your mind right! (Shades of Cool Hand Luke). More laughter.
To which I turn to my nieces and say - (making a funny face) you see - I told you - MENTALLY CHALLENGED AM I.
Someone says that cake and coffee are being served - and I would say that a good time was had by all - and I was glad I went.
Footnote:
I've been reading the history of the Gnostic movement after Christ's death - the origin of the Catholic Church and the feuding between the Jews who were following various sects of Christianity in the first two centuries (several books by Elaine Pagel). Reading about how religions started up - it makes it difficult for me to become a believer in anything except the basic nature of mankind which doesn't seem to change.
Oh - and if you are wondering about the title for this post. Turns out that one of the women from across the hall - her husband was a photographer in the 40's and once gave a lecture on Ansel and has an original signed print of Moonrise which she bought for something like $75 way back when.
