09/23/2022
Over three billion people got up at whatever time it was in their time zone, to witness or watch in real time, the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
No matter your perspective on her leadership or the value of royalty, that’s impressive!
What is it about the Queen and her long illustrious reign that fascinates? Rich or poor, brown, black or white, educated or illiterate, democrat or republican, I could go on and on, we all watched.
Some thoughts come to mind; the Queen's funeral was planned over 30 years ago when she was about the age I am now; an age thought to be vulnerable. The code name for the protocols to follow was named “London Bridge”; when London Bridge was down, it meant to those in the know that the queen had died. From that second on, all of the working players went to their positions and putting in the well learned protocols that needed to be followed on each day leading up to and including her funeral.
You don't need me to share the details; every single news outlet, digital or in print, shared those. The news made much of the little Prince George and Princess Charlotte, they were flawless.
Prince Louis stayed home; he showed his stripes at the Jubilee and could not be trusted.
The little Prince and Princess knew exactly what to do; nothing was left to chance. From the perfect black hat on Charlotte’s head to the immaculate suit that George wore.From their quietly dignified behavior at the service to the loudly whispered instruction by Charlotte to George,” you have to curtsy”, as Queen Elizabeth’s coffin passed by.
Every detail was scripted and executed without a single glitch; time honored and practiced protocols.
As we go into the weeks of prayer, fasting and holiday celebrations, we too follow a script that was created and planned thousands of years ago. When I was a little girl I often wondered how everyone in my small orthodox community knew how to do the exact same thing.
Shabbos and Yom Tov, when I walk down the many blocks filled with the hundreds of shuls in the Five Towns, I note that everyone is beautifully dressed and rushing in the same way that I am. And no matter which synagogue I enter, Sephardi and Ashkenazi alike, the door leads me to traditional prayer and practices that have been handed down for generations.
No matter how long or late you stay praying in shul, it all is the same. Each person is doing the same thing; asking for a good or better year and forgiveness for the transgressions of the past one.
I take comfort in that same old same old; I love that I am part of a warm and loving family who are part of three different observant Jewish communities in Canada, Israel and America. In all of those communities we do the same prayers and ask for the same again.
It never gets old and it never gets boring; it’s comforting and beautiful.
In every instance, we follow Ashkenazic customs, as our Sephardic brethren follow theirs, that have been practiced in our synagogues and communities for centuries.
And so on and so on and so on!
This Sunday is erev Rosh Hashana and the pidyon haben of our new great grandson Moshe. This custom of redemption of the eldest son born naturally, is part of a tradition that goes back hundreds and hundreds of years.
The children in our communities are educated and brought up to honor those traditions and pass them on to their children and grandchildren; just like we were.
While three billion people may not be watching, Hashem, the one who counts the most, is. And that is all that really matters to me and to all I know.
During these last few years of crazy times, we take comfort in the traditions and doing things in the same way.
Please join me in praying for good health, loving family and friends and peace for all.
I find myself always asking for the same.
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