[Magdalen] Kaddish [was Re: RIP Leonard Nimoy

[James Oppenheimer-Crawford]

I met Dr. Stephanie Samuels one day as I was going to a ward in the
psychiatric center where we both worked. She was one of the most passionate
advocates for patients I've ever known, and a fine physician, who also
happened to be of the Jewish faith.  She allowed as how she had heard I was
studying in seminary. I said one of the thrills was studying Hebrew.
"That's good. Everybody in seminary should study God's language," she said.

And it's true; I felt a passion for Hebrew that was never equaled by the
study of Greek.

There's something about sounding out a familiar text and realizing you are
saying words that were said thousands of years ago, when they were new, and
these words have changed us forever. How can someone study that -- and not
be changed?


James W. Oppenheimer-Crawford
*“A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved,
except in memory. LLAP**”  -- *Leonard Nimoy

On Sat, Feb 28, 2015 at 10:06 AM, Jim Guthrie <jguthrie at pipeline.com> wrote:

> Some of you interested in this might want to check out Temple Emanu-El in
> NY  --  a Reform Synagogue with s=an audio stream of their Friday Evening
> and Saturday morning services.
>
> http://www.emanuelnyc.org/
>
> Keep in mind that in assimilation into the U.S. Reform Jews based the
> Union Prayerbook on the Episcopal BCP c1871. They've made many changes
> since, but I'm sure those of you who collect historic BCPs all have a copy
> of one of the old Union books, I'm sure. I think it's an essential part of
> any Episcopalians BCP collection.
>
> The Lubavitchers also have a handy guide for beginners. Audio recordings
> of the ‘Mourner’s Kaddish’ and the ‘Rabbi’s Kaddish’ in three available
> versions: Chabad, Sefardic, and Ashkenaz.
>
> http://www.chabad.org/generic_cdo/aid/514160/jewish/Kaddish.htm?gclid=
> CJGFltnyhMQCFUMjgQodthcABA
>
> Maybe as a New Yorker, I've been more attuned to this, but sometimes I
> think there's much willful ignorance of Jewish practice among people who
> claim to like to study religion and theology. People of the Book should
> really have a broader outlook.
>
> Cheers,
> Jim Guthrie
>
>