[powerpress]
Mira’s Jewish Mysticism class at San José State University celebrated Rosh Hashana tonight. Technically it isn’t Rosh Hashana yet—it’s the eve of the eve—but her class only meets once a week, so: close enough. Since I was in San Jose this afternoon for business, she invited me to come by afterward and do a Kaddish for the year 5771 with her at the start of the evening class.
Mira introduced the Kaddish prayer and traditions, and then she read from her siddur while I played Kogan’s “Kaddish.” I’m not sure if anyone else hears a difference, but for me anyway, this piece seems to work a lot better when I have a live audience.
Afterward, I spoke a bit about the music and my history with the piece. Then we fielded questions and broke challah together and ate it with honey and dates in hopes of a sweet new year 5772.
I can’t help thinking that 5772 has got to be a sweeter year than 5771 has been for me and most of my near and dear, but it feels like bad luck to say such a thing out loud. What horrors 5772 could bring if we were to tempt it with such talk! May we all be inscribed and sealed for a good year.