Purim 5785: And so it's Purim! Or at least (depending on when you're reading this) almost Purim! The celebration of topsy-turvey, when bad things turn out to be good, and good things turn out to be - also good!
How could this be? Abq Jew hears you, his loyal readers, ask.
Well, following a brief century of inactivity, we see that miracles are again on the rise. We Jews, of course, have always believed and will always believe in miracles - mostly, because they happen. Not often enough, and often not to the people (and animals) that need them most - but miracles do happen.
Especially in Jerusalem, where a phone call to Our Father Who Art In Heaven is a local call. But how about other places in The Holy Land, like Ashkelon? And Haifa? How about outside The Holy Land?
How about Rio Rancho?
Well, maybe Rio Rancho is connected via Bluetooth. As our local TV station KOB reported on February 17th:
Construction begins on busy stretch of road in Rio Rancho
RIO RANCHO, N.M. — Construction on a new water line and road on Broadmoor Boulevard is scheduled to begin Monday in Rio Rancho.
This project consists of a new water line and new roadway reconstruction from Country Club Drive to Loma Colorado Boulevard.
Construction will last for about a year and will cost $8,436,641.10.
However, no full lane closures are expected during the process. You can expect some delays.
“Both directions of travel will be maintained throughout the duration of the project, ensuring that traffic can continue to flow smoothly along the roadway,” the city states.
Wow! A cost "prediction" down to the penny! And with only an approximate period for construction. Clearly, Rio Rancho is talking to Someone Up There.
Note: A February 25th update to KOB's story did not mention the time frame or cost of construction. The cell service must have dropped the call.
In the meantime, here in the Greater Again USA:
While Ireland's iconic Molly Malone could soon be out of reach. It’s time to give Molly the respect she’s always deserved!
In an effort to put an end to the long-standing tradition of tourists rubbing her for luck, local busker Tilly Cripwell’s “Leave Molly Malone” campaign has spurred Dublin City Council to consider elevating the statue. The proposal would see her lifted onto a higher plinth, complete with a commemorative plaque that details her history and legacy.
And we'll always have Scotland ....
The Morna Louisa is a half-length portrait painting by the Scottish artist Leonardo McVinci in 1501 and is considered an archetypal masterpiece. It has become the most parodied work of art in the world with McVinci's original art piece being first copied by his Italian cousin Da Vinci between 1503 and 1519, who named his piece "Mona Lisa" which translates in Italian to "My lady Lisa". Morna can be seen above with her pet Haggis as well as the famous Nessie even making an appearance in the background.
But we now return to our original theme: Miracles. And (of course) the Land of Israel. And (of course) Dry Bones.
And in heaven, this Purim features its very own full worm blood moon and its very own total lunar eclipse!
The Oscars, Again: As Abq Jew is sure you have heard - No Other Land, which chronicles Israel’s demolitions in the Judaean Palestinian West Bank village of Masafer Yatta, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
More importantly - Israeli superstar Gal Gadot, resplendent in a slinky red gown, appeared with her husband, Jaron Varsano, on the red carpet. And she also presented an award for Best Visual Effects with her Snow White co-star, Rachel Zegler, who has often posted support for Palestine.
And this year was way better than last year! The Jerusalem Post recalls:
There were many pins this year, but most, like the glittery one that Best Actor winner Adrien Brody wore, were likely apolitical fashion statements....
Last year, many red pins given out for Artists4Ceasefire were seen on the red carpet. The Brigade, a group created by pro-Israel film industry professionals after October 7, released a statement last month condemning the Artist4Ceasefire pins, which are red and depict a stylized hand, saying,
“That pin is no symbol of peace. It is the emblem of Jewish bloodshed,”
since it was inspired by a photo of the bloody hands of a member of a mob that lynched two soldiers in the West Bank in 2000.
Everyone everyone remembers that photo. Abq Jew will not show it here.
But back to the Academy Awards and No Other Land.
Just three months ago (see December 2024's Korin Allal, Musician, Dies at 69) Abq Jew showcased Korin Allal's most famous song - “Ein Li Eretz Acheret” (“I Have No Other Land”). With lyrics by famed Israeli songwriter Ehud Manor.
Written in 1982 in the midst of the First Lebanon War, its haunting melody and defiant lyrics are particularly relevant today.
Its primary message is reminiscent of the famous quotation by Golda Meir:
“We Jews have a secret weapon in our struggle with the Arabs; we have no place to go.”
But it goes on to pledge, “I will not stay silent because my country changed her face/I will not give up reminding her/And sing in her ears until she will open her eyes.
This song reminds us of why we fight when forced into battle time and time again by neighboring countries who seek only to destroy our Jewish State.
אין לי ארץ אחרת
Ein li eretz acheret I have no other country
גם אם אדמתי בוערת
gam im admati bo'eret even if my land is burning.
רק מילה בעברית חודרת
Rak milah b'ivrit choderet Just a word in Hebrew penetrates
אל עורקיי, אל נשמתי
el orakai, el nishmati to my veins, to my soul.
בגוף כואב, בלב רעב
B'guf ko'ev, b'lev ra'ev With a weak body, with a hungry heart.
כאן הוא ביתי
kan hu beiti Here is my home.
* לא אשתוק
Lo eshtok I will not stay silent
כי ארצי שינתה את פניה
ki artzi shinta et paneha because my country changed her face.
לא אוותר לה
Lo evater la I will not give up on her
אזכיר לה
Azkir la I will remind her.
ואשיר כאן באוזניה
V'ashir kan b'ozneha And I will sing right into her ears
עד שתפקח את עיניה
Ad sheh-tiftach et eineha until she will open her eyes.
Why is Abq Jew angry?
Because the No Other Land film stole our song - its Jewish title, its Jewish meaning, and the Jewish history it portrays. And no one said anything.
Future of Jewish has published a more complete picture of what happened at Masafer Yatta. With facts and context.
The award for Best (Antisemitic) Documentary goes to...
Of the many reviews of the newly Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land,” none of them even hint at the facts. The film is pure propaganda meant to incite people to hate Israel.
In June of 1982, Israel Prize laureate and much-loved songwriter Ehud Manor was sitting with his wife Ofra in the living room, watching the news on television. The news item was about the First Lebanon War between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization attacking Israel from Lebanon.
Ofra recalled this event vividly: “We saw footage of Israeli soldiers entering Beirut. Ehud broke down. I’m telling you, he was weeping. He said: ‘I cannot take it’ — and then he began jotting down words on a piece of paper.”
Those words went on to become the song, “Ein Li Eretz Acheret” (Hebrew for “I Have No Other Country”) — voted time and again as Israel’s favorite song, and its title morphed into a popular catchphrase throughout Israel.
Two days ago, the 97th Academy Awards (The Oscars) gave its Best Documentary award to a film that plagiarized “Ein Li Eretz Acheret” and conspicuously spun it to demonize Israel.
Israel Bachar, Israel’s Consul General in Los Angeles, tweeted in response to the Oscars ceremony:
“If Hollywood wants to watch a Palestinian documentary, I recommend that they watch the hundreds of hours in which the Palestinians have documented themselves murdering entire families, kidnapping the elderly and infants, and committing every crime against humanity imaginable.”
In much, much happier and well-deserved news - Gal Gadot recently received the ADL's International Leadership Award. The ADL's website tells us:
Actress and Producer Gal Gadot was honored with the ADL International Leadership Award for her commitment to combating antisemitism.
“This is a time when many of us in the Jewish community have had to find our voice and confront the hatred against us, even if it’s extremely uncomfortable.
Rhapsody in Blue with the Boston Pops: Please! Let's take another break from the harsh, terrible, sorrowful news of the day. Yes, Abq Jew fully recognizes that there are many - too many - who cannot take such a break. But let's, while we can.
From Steady, the Substack newsletter of Dan Rather - the American journalist, commentator, and former national evening news anchor. To which (especially his Reason to Smile columns) and to whom Abq Jew has referred many times in the past.
More Than a Mayor
In an attempt to remind us all that there are still elected officials out there who believe in serving their constituents and their communities, we have found a reason to smile: Michelle Wu, the mayor of Boston. And lest you think we are moving away from a musical focus, just wait.
Wu is the first woman and first person of color to hold the job. A daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, she is a self-described “pragmatic progressive.”
Her campaign website lays out her vision: “This moment is a call to action. To me, that means thinking big about how to build a more resilient, healthy, and fair Boston, and then having the courage and political will to fight for all of our families.” By most accounts, she is making good on those promises.
While doing all she can for the residents of Boston, Wu is also an accomplished musician. She started taking piano lessons at the age of four and has been playing ever since. On her first day at City Hall, she had a piano placed in her office. Wu must have found time to use it, if her performance with the Boston Pops is any measure.
Last September, Wu performed with the famed orchestra as part of Concert for the City, an free annual concert for the people of Boston.
At the Boston Symphony Orchestra's 2024 Concert for the City, Mayor Michelle Wu performed George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" with the Boston Pops.
The Concert for the City is a free event that showcases all that the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops have to offer, alongside arts and music education partners and programs from throughout Greater Boston.
At the 2023 Concert for the City, Mayor Michelle Wu performed Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 in C, K.467 (2nd movement, Andante).
Mayor Wu returned to Symphony Hall this year to perform one of her favorite pieces, Georgie Gershwin's 1924 solo piano and jazz band musical composition, "Rhapsody in Blue."
Mayor Wu is a champion of the arts and music in Boston, helping to make arts education more accessible to young people through her Connect, Learn, Explore summer learning initiative and BPS Sundays, a program making certain museums, zoos, and cultural institutions free for Boston Public Schools students on the first and second Sundays of each month.
I had a wonderful time performing “Rhapsody in Blue” with the Boston Pops at the @bostonsymphony’s Concert for the City, alongside many incredibly talented musicians like the @bostonchildrenschorus, the @bforchestra, @veronicaroblesmariachi and more!
Events like this are what make Boston so special—seeing so much of the incredible talent and artistry that exists in our city, all in one place and entirely free.
I want to thank the BSO for opening their doors to our communities every year, and creating this opportunity for all of us to share in the magic of music’s company together.
Congratulations to all of the musicians on their incredible performances! Honored to share the stage with you and our Boston Pops!
Surely you, Abq Jew's loyal readers, know the answer to this one! But just in case, Wikipedia reminds us all -
George Gershwin (/ˈɡɜːrʃ.wɪn/; born Jacob Gershwine; September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned popular, jazz and classical genres. Among his best-known works are the orchestral compositions Rhapsody in Blue (1924) and An American in Paris (1928), the songs "Swanee" (1919) and "Fascinating Rhythm" (1924), the jazz standards "Embraceable You" (1928) and "I Got Rhythm" (1930), and the opera Porgy and Bess (1935), which included the hit "Summertime".
Rhapsody in Blue is a 1924 musical composition for solo piano and jazz band by George Gershwin. Commissioned by bandleader Paul Whiteman, the work combines elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects and premiered in a concert titled "An Experiment in Modern Music" on February 12, 1924, in Aeolian Hall, New York City. Whiteman's band performed the rhapsody with Gershwin playing the piano.
So. About Boston.
As Abq Jew has pointed out (see July 2024's Our House), Mr & Mrs Abq Jew no longer have close family who live in New York City or in New York State.
And here in Albuquerque, New Mexico - where our own Mayor Tim Keller celebrates music in his own way - well, Mr & Mrs Abq Jew do not, despite their best efforts over 15 years, have close family who live here. Alas.
But Mr & Mrs Abq Jew now have very close family who live in Rhode Island. Just a short drive to Boston, half-way to NH - where (see May 2021's Portsmouth Parking & The Jews) they also have very close family.
