kaddish in two-part harmony
A conversation between an anthropologist and a musician along with a growing virtual minyan, on themes of death and dying, grief, ritual, and the interplay between music and words.about
Tag Archives: murder
killing you loudly—a kaddish
This is the sound of me wailing. Again. Kaddish project’s over, but death does not just up and disappear. So. Here we are again. Only this time it’s a bit different. They’re killing you as we speak. They’re cutting you … Continue reading
daily kaddish: for Talia’s neighbor
A kaddish for Talia’s neighbor, murdered in his house this morning; may he rest in peace, and may his poor widow find peace herself somehow too. Continue reading
Posted in kaddish in two-part harmony, podcasts
Tagged fluegelhorn, jam, murder, neighbor, piano, Talia Baruch, Ward Spangler
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daily kaddish: for amanda simmons
Tonight’s kaddish, using Mira’s text for a household engulfed in sadness, wishing blessings on the house, is for Amanda Simmons Continue reading
Posted in kaddish in two-part harmony, podcasts
Tagged Amanda Simmons, household, murder, rugs, suicide
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daily kaddish: for amanda simmons
Tomorrow Mira and I will collaborate live to record a proper Kaddish for Amanda Simmons and the guy who shot them both. Continue reading
Posted in kaddish in two-part harmony, podcasts
Tagged Amanda Simmons, household, murder, rugs, suicide
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precious daughters: a kaddish for Amanda Simmons
I was writing about books. Letting go of books. A preemptive kaddish for books turns out I couldn’t part with. The occasion was my daughter’s return from China. And driving up, by way of the Coast, from L.A. where her … Continue reading
Posted in essays, kaddish in two-part harmony
Tagged Amanda Simmons, books, grief, Karastan, loss, murder, Precious Daughter, the search for meaning
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daglige kaddisj: for 92 i norge
Today’s Kaddish is for the ninety-two killed by a Christian fundamentalist in Norway on Friday, and it combines Kogan’s “Kaddish” with the Norwegian national anthem, “Ja, vi elsker dette landet.” Continue reading
Posted in kaddish in two-part harmony, podcasts
Tagged Anders Behring Breivik, Christian fundamentalist, murder, Norway
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daily kaddish: for leiby kletzky
A kaddish for a little boy who was excited to walk home alone for the first time, whose walk ended in senseless tragedy. A kaddish for all the children whose good days turn horribly, unaccountably tragic, and for their families who will never, ever understand why. Continue reading
Posted in kaddish in two-part harmony, podcasts
Tagged abduction, Brooklyn, children, infanticide, Leiby Kletzy, Levi Aron, moms, murder, Orthodox, ritual, senseless tragedy
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a kaddish for those who choose their ends
They offed themselves. Both of them, together. She’s pissed, and devastated, and who wouldn’t be? But I can’t help admiring their decision, even as I share her grief and anger. Continue reading
Posted in essays
Tagged compassion, death and dying, euthanasia, grief, life cycle, murder, parenting, suicide
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a kaddish for six people in arizona
In the copious, loud discussion that has following in the wake of the shootings in Arizona last week, what has gotten lost is that six people died. Six people died, and we don’t even know their names. May their memories be a blessing to those who knew them. May their memories not be wasted by the rest of us thinking that their tragedy is fodder for our careless arguments. Continue reading