This is something to which I have been giving a lot of thought after seeing a Philos Project social media post. Someone was bringing flowers to a local Jewish Organization/office a few blocks away. This made me think of doing something similar to show local Jewish communities that they have support here. This Sunday, I will be playing harp in a local protestant church. I’m playing a piece entitled, Mi Ha’Ish; Psalm 34 12-14 (Who is the man?) which is found in Jewish liturgy and is a well-known Hebrew song. I was struck by the reflective musical beauty of this piece as well as the words which I will be singing in Hebrew. I have studied this with a harp teacher who is also a Reform Rabbi. There are many translations I have found but prefer how the rabbi translated it, “Who is the person who desires life? The one who keeps his tongue from speaking evil, who seeks peace and runs after it.” I wanted to highlight something of the beauty that Judaism has given to us and also remind listeners that the Jewish people are in need of prayer and support. This, at least, is some small contribution, but I hope to do more.
