No distance

The distance between
here and there
disappears when
the difference between
here and there
disappears.
What a journey!
© 2024 by Bob Schwartz

The distance between
here and there
disappears when
the difference between
here and there
disappears.
What a journey!
© 2024 by Bob Schwartz

The art of Ben Shahn (1898-1969) is, I think, maybe a little out of style these days. This may say something about where we are, as Americans in general and as Jews in particular. From the 1930s through the 1960s, his work as a photographer and artist reflects, in theme and content, an uncompromising commitment to social justice and to the core of his faith. His works are guides through the struggles of the Depression, World War II, postwar economic difficulties, civil rights, and more. He had a special love for Jewish scripture and culture.
I was planning to exhibit some of his artwork promoting voter registration and voting, which I will soon. But given the time of year, I found a couple of his works specifically focused on the High Holidays, which are here right now.

Please enjoy and explore Ben Shahn. He will be back in these pages, because he is needed.

I have a small collection of older High Holiday machzor (prayer books), including ones used by my grandfather and father.
The jewel of that collection is the one pictured here. It is called Form of Prayers for the Feast of New-Year With English Translation, published by the Hebrew Publishing Company on Canal Street, New York in 1907. The book, with ornate metal clasp, is 3.5 inches x 5 inches.

The cover is mother of pearl and metal. The centerpiece is a carved decoration inscribed with the numbers of the Ten Commandments—in Roman numerals! I think this looks something like a hamsa—a spiritual amulet shaped like a hand, popular in Jewish and other traditions. Maybe not.
I would like to share more pages, but the book is delicate, having been lovingly held together with taped binding during the past century plus. The pages I’ve included below are from the concluding service on Yom Kippur, the Neilah. This offers a tiny idea of what this precious book is like.

Shana tova. A sweet and peace-filled New Year.

The wolf shall live with the lamb;
the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
the calf and the lion will feed together,
and a little child shall lead them.
Isaiah 11:6

Christopher Robin had made a long table out of some long pieces of wood, and they all sat around it. Christopher Robin sat at one end, and Pooh sat at the other, and between them on one side were Owl and Eeyore and Piglet, and between them on the other side were Rabbit, and Roo and Kanga. And all Rabbit’s friends-and-relations spread themselves about on the grass, and waited hopefully in case anybody spoke to them, or dropped anything, or asked them the time.
Winnie-the-Pooh, Chapter Ten, In Which Christopher Robin Gives Pooh a Party, and We Say Good-bye

Ashamnu
אָשַׁמְנוּ
nahn maswuwlun
نحن مسؤولون
We are responsible
Bagadnu
בָּגַדְנוּ
nahn nakhun
نحن نخون
We betray
Gazalnu
גָּזַלְנוּ
nahn nasriq
نحن نسرق
We steal
Dibarnu dofi
דִבַּרְנוּ דֹפִי
nahn nahtaqir
نحن نحتقر
We scorn
He-evinu
הֶעֱוִינוּ
nahn natasaraf bishakl munharif
نحن نتصرف بشكل منحرف
We act perversely
V’hirshanu
וְהִרְשַׁעְנוּ
nahn qusa
نحن قساة
We are cruel
Zadnu
זַדְנוּ
nahn nukhatit
نحن نخطط
We scheme
Chamasnu
חָמַסְנוּ
nahn eanifun
نحن عنيفون
We are violent
Tafalnu shaker
טָפַלְנוּ שֶקֶר
nahn alaiftira’
نحن الافتراء
We slander
Ya-atznu ra
יָעַצְנוּ רַע
nahn nabtakir alshara
نحن نبتكر الشر
We devise evil
Kizavnu
כִּזַבְנוּ
nahn naqul al’akadhib
نحن نقول الأكاذيب
We lie
Latznu
לַצְנוּ
nahn naskhar
نحن نسخر
We ridicule
Maradnu
מָרַדְנוּ
nahn naesi
نحن نعصي
We disobey
Ni-atznu
נִאַצְנוּ
nahn nasi’
نحن نسيء
We abuse
Sararnu
סָרַרְנוּ
nahn natahadak
نحن نتحداك
We defy
Avinu
עָוִינוּ
nahn nufsid
نحن نفسد
We corrupt
Tzararnu
צָרַרְנוּ
nahn eadaayiyuwna
نحن عدائيون.
We are hostile
Kishinu oref
קִשִׁינוּ עֹרֶף
nahn eanidun
نحن عنيدون
We are stubborn
Rashanu
רָשַׁעְנוּ
nahn ghayr ‘akhlaqiiyn
نحن غير أخلاقيين
We are immoral
Shichatnu
שִׁחַתְנוּ
nahn naqtul
نحن نقتل
We kill
Tiavnu
תִּעַבְנוּ
nahn nufsid
نحن نفسد
We spoil
Ta·inu
תָּעִינוּ
nahn nudil
نحن نضل
We go astray
Titanu
תִּעְתָּעְנוּ
nahn naqud alakharin ‘iilaa aldalal
نحن نقود الآخرين إلى الضلال
We lead others astray
The Jewish High Holidays 5785/2024—the ten Days of Repentance and Awe—begin with Rosh Hashanah, the New Year, on the evening of October 2, and end with Yom Kippur, the Day of Repentance, on October 10.
Confession is a centerpiece of the holiday. In the liturgy, Vidui includes two confessional prayers, Ashamnu and Al Cheit. Ashamnu is the shorter list of transgressions. Al Cheit is a longer detailed list of particular wrongdoings.
The past year has been one of tragedy, suffering and war in Israel, Gaza, the Middle East, and the Jewish world. Whatever our faith, status, history, ideology, grievances, or rationales, we are reminded now that none of is above responsibility, none of us as above the need for confession.
Above is my adaptation of Ashamnu. In Hebrew it is an acrostic, the first letter of each line in alphabetical order. English translations of those words vary, but all are admissions of conduct to be fixed in the year ahead. I’ve changed the common translation of the first word, Ashamnu. Often translated as “we have trespassed” or “we are guilty”, I have borrowed from Abraham Joshua Heschel. He famously said about his early protest of the Vietnam War: “In a free society, few are guilty, but all are responsible.”
My version also adds a rough translation of each expression into Arabic. Not in the least literate in the language, I’ve relied on a digital translator. For any errors in this, small or egregious, my humble and sincere apologies.
The message is that all of us, from the heinous to the heavenly, are responsible. The High Holidays insist that we are imperfect in ways that we may not acknowledge or may ignore. Our hearts may be hard when they should be soft. Why else do we literally beat our chests as we recite each of our wrongs? So we can locate our hearts, reach in, and know what condition they are in.
Shana tova. A good and sweet New Year to all.
© 2024 by Bob Schwartz

“Chuck Schumer is Hamas all the way. I don’t know what the hell happened to him. If you support him, you’re crazy.”
“But they do love me in Israel. Everybody loves me. I could run for Prime Minister.”
Trump recently addressed the Israeli-American Council. In his 45-minute incoherent diatribe he explained why American Jews must vote for him.
Some unforgettable moments:
And, sadly, and I have to say this, and it hurts me to say it, you’re going to still vote for Democrats, and it doesn’t make sense. I say all the time that any Jewish person that votes for her, especially now, her or the Democrat Party, should have their head examined. It’s true.
With all I have done for Israel, I received only 24 percent of the Jewish vote. Now, think of this. I really haven’t been treated very well, but that’s the story of my life. It’s true. Think of it. But I understood that because I wasn’t really tested, I wasn’t a politician, and I won. But I understood that. And then I became President and was the best President ever for the people of Israel and for Jewish people. The best President ever.
And I did more for them than any President has and probably any President can do or will do, other than the current situation that’s coming up, because I have a feeling that maybe that’s going to be more than anything that was even done in the past, if you want to know the truth, because I think Israel is in big trouble.
And still, in 2020 — so remember, I got 24, 25 percent. Now I did all of these things, and I got 29 percent. Think of it. So I wasn’t treated right. But it’s not me that’s been treated badly. It’s Israel. Because you can make a big difference in the vote. You’re going to be a big factor in the vote.
I will say, places like Miami and different places were great. But honestly, I went from 25 to 29. And based on what I did, and based on my love of the same love that you have, I should be at 100. I should be at 100. But — But let me give you the bad news. A poll — I just told you how good the polls are, but we need every vote we can get.
The current polling has me with Jewish citizens, Jewish people — people that are supposed to love Israel. After having done all of that, having been the best President, the greatest President, by far — by far — a poll just came out. I’m at 40 percent. That means you got 60 percent voting for somebody that hates Israel. And I say it, it’s going to happen.
It’s only because of the Democrat hold or curse on you. You can’t let this happen. Forty percent is not acceptable because we have an election to win. So after all of this, I went from 29 to 40 percent.
And people that are smart said to me — a friend of mine, Jewish friend of mine, loves Israel, loves everything about your religion and about your country, your place. He said, “I can’t believe it’s happening. It’s sad.” And he started to cry, actually. He started to cry. With all of this — and he’s a tough cookie. I don’t think he cried for — since he was a little tiny baby. Maybe then I don’t think he cried.
And I only want to be — so I’m not going to call this as a prediction, but, in my opinion, the Jewish people would have a lot to do with a loss if I’m at 40 percent. If I’m at — if I think of it, that means 60 percent of voting for Kamala, who, in particular, is a bad Democrat.
The Democrats are bad to Israel. Very bad. They’ll never change because they have a section of their party now which has become amazingly and quickly very powerful, votes-wise. I mean, Chuck Schumer is a Palestinian. Who would have thought that was going to happen? What the hell happened to him? I saw him the other day. He was dressed in one of their robes, you know. That’ll be next. No, Chuck Schumer is Hamas all the way. I don’t know what the hell happened to him. If you support him, you’re crazy.
I’m at 40 percent. And when I heard that number today — it just came out today — when I heard that number today, I think it was insulting to our country. It was insulting to Israel. You know, it’s very interesting. They did a poll in Israel. I’m, like, at 99 percent favorable. I could run for — right now, I could run for any office in Israel. I’m at — in Israel, they love me. Here, not so much.
But they do love me in Israel. Everybody loves me. I could run for Prime Minister. Would you like me as your Prime Minister? But I have to learn your language. That’s a tough language to learn. I have to learn it in about three months. I have to learn it very quickly. But, no, I’m very — most popular person in Israel. But here, it doesn’t translate. It’s a — it’s a strange thing.

On an episode of the NBC show 30 Rock, Idiots Are People Two!, when Tracy Jordan is called an idiot on TV, he rallies his fellow idiots to stage a protest against NBC.
30 Rock is the best TV comedy series of the current era. It found ways to sweetly make fun of America’s social, cultural, business and political foibles. Human foibles too.
Even though the show ended in 2013, some of its sharpest points are timeless. I know many episodes by heart, after frequent rewatching. Today, the episode that came to mind is Idiots Are People Two!

All you children, gather ’round
We will dance and we will whirl
All you children, gather ’round
We will dance together
We will dance to our own song
We must spin to our own world
Won’t you dance with me?
All You Children, Jamie xx/The Avalanches from In Waves (2024)
Memorable music moments can be big or little, big or little artists, big or little venues.
Big Ears is the most creative and eclectic music festival in America. Held in Knoxville, Tennessee, founded in 2009, we attended the festival in 2015.
There were artists familiar and unfamiliar, performing in concert halls and smaller sites. One night we went to a tiny downstairs club to hear producer and DJ Jamie xx (Jamie Smith). I didn’t know that he was a founding member of the xx, an award-winning young British group. I didn’t know much about him or about the music he was producing for others and creating for us and himself.
What I heard was unforgettable. What I didn’t know was that at that moment his first solo album (his only one until this month, nine years later) was being released. In Colour (2015) became and remains one of my favorite recorded works.
There are so many talented artists in so many media. That is abundantly the case with music and with Jamie xx. As overwhelming as the art may be, there is a distinction that some artists express. As vague and wispy as it may sound, it is an expression of humanity. When I heard Jamie xx creating in that club, when I heard In Colour (again and again), that’s the distinction I still note.
Now we have, after nine years, In Waves. I will also be listening to this again and again. You should try too.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year 5785, begins on the evening of October 2. The ten High Holidays continue until Yom Kippur on October 12.
The High Holidays are known as the Days of Repentance or the Days of Awe.
These holidays are complicated. Like SweeTARTS.

We take an unvarnished look back at what we’ve done and who we’ve been in the past year. We confess our transgressions in excruciating detail. We make a solemn commitment to do better in the year ahead.
We also leave the past year behind for the better sweeter year to come. The better sweeter us. We eat apples dipped in honey as a reminder of that possibility.
The term “Days of Awe” reflects a few things.
There is a belief that all this occurs in the face of a God that is powerful, judgmental and merciful. Something to be in awe of and afraid of.
Another perspective is that when we set aside days to look at ourselves, at others, at our relation and connection to others and to everything, we are in awe of a wonder-filled existence. Awesome
That is why we may call these the Days of Awesome. When some of us think of awesome, besides thinking theologically and philosophically, we naturally think about The Lego Movie.
Above is an image of Emmet and Wyldstyle reading from the High Holidays machzor (prayer book). The message: Everything is awesome.
Some may think that mixing up this solemn time with SweeTARTS and Legos trivializes and even desecrates the holidays. Or maybe during those special days, everything really is awesome.

Vote Forward. Vote Kamala Harris. Download poster by Shepard Fairey.