Inspired by Story and Song

Written by Tamara Frankel

Inspired by Story and Song: This was the topic of the JSA Snider Foundation Virtual Empowerment Session held on December 2nd, in partnership with Louis Brier Home & Hospital. Gyda Chud welcomed the 45 Zoom participants, as well as the 35 Louis Brier residents, who enjoyed Shanie Levin’s stories and Myrna Rabinowitz’ singing.

Myrna opened with a Hanukkah song in Yiddish Drei Zich Dreidele (Spin Yourself Dreidel), which was followed by Shanie reading a charming Shalom Aleichem story Hanukkah Gelt (Hanukkah Money). Motl and his brother take part in the beloved customs of a favorite holiday: the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah, the traditional eating of potato latkes, playing dreidel, and the gift of Hanukkah money. 

In the course of the program Myrna delighted the audience with songs in Hebrew, Yiddish and Ladino. She sang Oh Hanukkah, a song in Ladino about 8 candles, as well as more personal songs—one that she wrote on the occasion of her grandson’s birth, as well as a song for her father. She offered her audience a special treat by singing the classic and sentimental Yiddish song by the Barry Sisters from the 1950s Wie Nemt Men a Bissele Mazel (Where Can You Get a Little Luck).

Shanie chose a story by Abraham Karpinowitz titled Jewish Money, from a book called Vilna my Vilna. Karpinowitz was known for his detailed and vivid descriptions of the city of Vilna and the odd characters who lived there.

The Spice Box is an anthology of Canadian Jewish Writers. Shanie read an illuminating story written in 1968 by Larry Zolf who was well known as a CBC personality and writer for the popular program This Hour has 7 Days. The story, Boil me no melting pot, dream me no dreams, deals with the difference between the American and Canadian immigrant experience.

Preposterous Papa, the final story read by Shanie, was a heartwarming and delightful excerpt from a book by Lewis Meyer. Meyer’s father grew up in a small town in Oklahoma with very few Jewish families. Unable to commute to the synagogue in the larger city, his father bought a house and converted it into a chapel, enabling the few Jewish families in nearby towns to socialize and pray on high holidays. This story exemplifies the soulful and communal spirit of Judaism.  Myrna ended the program with an upbeat song in Yiddish, “We are all brothers and sisters.”

Nathalie Jacobs of Louis Brier thanked the performers and expressed her wish to partner with JSA in the future.