Two quick additions to the Talmud story. Apologies if you’re already familiar…
1) The phrase that ends the argument “It’s not in heaven” is a quote from the Torah. So Torah is quoted to tell the heavenly voice to “back off.” It’s a nice irony.
2) The story goes on to ask how God responded. It says “Upon hearing Rabbi Joshua's response, God laughed and said, "My children have defeated Me; My children have defeated Me."
I haven't read this piece before, but it's very forthright, engaging, and dare I say it, kind and fair in describing your father; the image in my mind of him conversing/debating his grandchild is priceless. As an older (I'm not elderly! No, I refuse to be elderly!) WASP male, I still struggle with family dynamics and foibles that I was raised with and understand could (and can) be quite limiting. Yet I still try to be generous emotionally and intellectually, even if they do not reciprocate. Brava on a very touching piece.
Thanks so much Christopher! I hope you like “My Father’s Body” too. It was a breakthrough piece for me in terms of allowing emotion into my writing. Philosophy training—feh!!!
Thank you for returning me to our charmed circle; my memories are like a wilting garden occasionally restored to vigor by a compassionate watering. (Mostly these days I do my own watering.)
Two quick additions to the Talmud story. Apologies if you’re already familiar…
1) The phrase that ends the argument “It’s not in heaven” is a quote from the Torah. So Torah is quoted to tell the heavenly voice to “back off.” It’s a nice irony.
2) The story goes on to ask how God responded. It says “Upon hearing Rabbi Joshua's response, God laughed and said, "My children have defeated Me; My children have defeated Me."
I love these additions. Wish I’d known before, so I could put them in. The second one is especially delicious!
I haven't read this piece before, but it's very forthright, engaging, and dare I say it, kind and fair in describing your father; the image in my mind of him conversing/debating his grandchild is priceless. As an older (I'm not elderly! No, I refuse to be elderly!) WASP male, I still struggle with family dynamics and foibles that I was raised with and understand could (and can) be quite limiting. Yet I still try to be generous emotionally and intellectually, even if they do not reciprocate. Brava on a very touching piece.
Thanks so much Christopher! I hope you like “My Father’s Body” too. It was a breakthrough piece for me in terms of allowing emotion into my writing. Philosophy training—feh!!!
Thank you for returning me to our charmed circle; my memories are like a wilting garden occasionally restored to vigor by a compassionate watering. (Mostly these days I do my own watering.)
Hi Larry!! I see there’s an email from you too. Looking forward to reading.
Susan,
I loved this essay, both the thoughts on the wonderfully disputatious nature of Judaism and your lovely and loving remembrance of your father.
Thank you! Funny to think about your mother and my father in the same room. What a collision that would be!
You painted a very real and enjoyable portrait of your father and the legacy he left you.
Thank you.
Thank you for saying so!
It drives Republicans & right wing Israel totally nuts that 75% of American Jews are liberal.
Hahahaha. Let the driving continue!!
For some reason, most America Jews don’t like fascists so it’s assured.