Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, began last night at sundown and continues today. I thought it appropriate to have our Monday Music celebrate the event. After considerable thought, I chose the theme music to Schindler’s List. It’s not at all joyous; in fact, I want to weep every time I hear it. But it is hauntingly beautiful. This version is by Itzhak Perlman.
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This is a beautiful piece of music, and yes – so hauntingly sad. May we always remember, never forget and may we be good to one another always.
On Rosh Hashana it is traditional to eat apples dipped in honey as wish one and all a sweet year. Once Rosh Hashana begins we are in “the days of awe,” until Yom Kippur comes. It is a time to focus on repentance. I think that the music you have given us is a reminder that so much horror is possible, but that changed hearts, like Oskar Schindler’s, and our own, can bring healing, change, beauty, love and life itself. That is very uplifting to me on this early Monday morning!
L’shana tova and shalom to all.
Thanks for this reminder of the tradition Fran, I think I will do it with the girls tonight.
Fran,
Apples dipped in honey… what a lovely tradition!
Paul
I totally agree with your comments about this piece of music. I am automatically taken back to the film. I think it is amazing that music without lyrics can touch the heart so emotively.
ps. Prayers for MF please who is undergoing an operation for lung cancer tomorrow and his wife; who I’m sure at this moment in time needs them equally. Many thanks.
A good week to one and all.
Katy
will pray
Prayers for your friend and family that they will know the presence of our Lord.
They are in my prayers.
Praying for a good outcome and comfort for friends and family.
will do Katy
Katy,
I’ve been praying for MF and his wife. Tomorrow, I’ll double down on prayer.
Paul
Prayers!
This is certainly “hauntingly beautiful” and it evokes so many memories of both despair and hope. It brought me back to the day many, many years ago when I first visited the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem and was absolutely horrified at what I saw. It is one thing to read history books and quite another to be faced with reality displayed as it is at the Holocaust Memorial. For me that was a life-altering moment when I could no longer live a life cocooned in my own little world. And today listening to this music and reflecting on the horror of the Holocaust I do weep and I pray that each day we will choose to bring healing and love to all.
Lynda,
Some day I hope to – and, at the same time, I dread it – visit the Holocaust Memorial.
Paul
New Year’s Day is a good time not only to celebrate a new beginning, but to remember who and what was lost in the past year. Beautiful, sad music is as lovely, as appropriate, and as necessary as songs we can sing and dance too. Thank you for sharing this music, from this extraordinary human being.
May we all be inscribed for a sweet and happy new year!
Katy — praying now. God bless and be with you all.
Have a good week everyone!
Denise,
“Inscribed”! I love it.
Paul
Reminds me of the mystery of the goodness and beauty found in the rubble of tragedy.
Does God plant seeds of hope even where it seems that death and evil abound? Does he allow those seeds to find a path to the light as compensation for having giving each of us the terrible great gift free will with which we can do either profound good or horrifing evil?
I like to believe in such transformative love. I can’t help but live in hope that the love that raised his Son from the dead will help find new life here in our midst too.
Maura,
I’m with you in believing in hope… because of the Resurrection.
Paul
Simply beautiful, I shared this with others, have a good week everyone. Our prayers are with your friend and family Katy.
Tim,
It is glorious music but, boy, is it sad.
Paul
Hi,
I have to say thanks for a beautiful moment this Monday afternoon.
Katy you and your friends and family are in my prayers.
Phil
Phil,
You are, as always, most welcome. I’m glad it touched your heart.
Paul
L’Shana Tova! A beautiful piece to start the week even if it does evoke memories of the holocaust due its association with “Schindler’s List.” I, like Linda, have visited Yad Vashem in Jerusalem and if anyone could come away from that place untouched I would guess they would have to be certifiable. Please God let us learn from the lessons of the past.
Simon,
Yes. Yes. Yes. But why, oh why, do we seem incapable of learning the lessons?
Paul
I’ve asked myself the same question.
I am with Maura that the thought of God present amidst the horror is consistant with my image of God. It is hard to reconcile any of it though. I have never been able to watch Schindlers List though and even listening to the music churns my stomach and makes my heart race. Maybe it is my German heritage, I don’t know. But this was so beautiful and heartbreaking, which I guess is life itself.
But it is a new year and it is time to rejoice in another day to get things right. Hopefully God grades the effort more than the outcome.
Annette,
I hope God is not doing any “grading” at all.
Paul
Paul,
Me too! But Jesus is called teacher…;).
Love it, slow tune, perfect for a Monday. God bless
Fr Paul,
Thank you for Itzhaz Perlman.
Listening to him now on YouTube……so beautiful, so very beautiful.
Thank you, thank you.