A Hellenist Left Standing
Posted on | December 15, 2009 | By Bracha Goetz | 12 Comments
It was the twenty-fifth of December,
And when she closes her eyes she remembers,
Just how it was.
A Jewish girl from Queens,
Had fulfilled her secret dreams,
Decorating that bright, forbidden tree.
A Jewish girl from Queens,
Had fulfilled her secret dreams.
She helped hang tinsel merrily.
Her boyfriend’s family,
Was friendly as could be.
They had fun watching her delight.
Her boyfriend’s family,
Was friendly as could be.
By the fireplace they sang carols that night.
Then they piled into the car.
It wasn’t very far.
Greetings called to those they’d pass.
Then they piled into the car.
It wasn’t very far.
Each year the family went to Midnight Mass.
But there in a church pew,
She didn’t know what to do,
As everyone else bent down to kneel.
But there in a church pew,
She didn’t know what to do.
In those moments was her future sealed?
Alone, trembling, she stood,
Still uncertain if she should.
What stopped her from kneeling in that place?
Alone, trembling, she stood,
Still uncertain if she should.
The word “Jew” was stamped on her face.
The twenty-fifth makes her remember,
Because it’s Kislev – not December.
She almost fell, like Hellenists of old.
The twenty-fifth makes her remember,
Because it’s Kislev – not December.
Once she, too, chose tinsel, not the gold.
So radiant – hidden away.
A golden light, still pure today.
Flashing bulbs can’t come near its glow.
So radiant – hidden away.
A golden light, still pure today.
Her Jewish home shines with treasures she didn’t know.
For now many years have passed.
Each Chanukahs spins by so fast.
And as grandchildren light, my past becomes less real.
For now many years have passed.
Each Chanukah spins by so fast.
Standing by lights, I whisper thanks I didn’t kneel.
Bracha Goetz is the Harvard-educated author of eleven children’s books, including Aliza in MitzvahLand, What Do You See in Your Neighborhood? and The Invisible Book. To enjoy Bracha’s presentations, you’re welcome to email bgoetzster@gmail.com.
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December 15th, 2009 @ 10:25 am
This is beautiful. I’m curious – is the rhyming structure based on lyrics to a known song? I’d love to hear this put to music.
December 15th, 2009 @ 7:25 pm
Yes! What a perceptive comment! This poem does have original music that was created by my friend and composer, Mindy Peltz. A lot of my poetry has been put to music, and the songs are performed for female audiences.
December 16th, 2009 @ 12:18 am
The Helenists are not gone.
Their contemporary incarnations include: Reform Judaism, Conservative Judaism, Reconstructionist Judaism, Jews for J_____, Jeremy ben Ami and his deceptive anti-Israel J Street organization, “Rabbi” Judith Hauptman whose Jewish congregation always meets in churches to pray, Ehud Olmert, and many more.
December 16th, 2009 @ 10:47 am
BG – Is there any way you could have my daughter’s school sing it so I could learn it from my daughter? Do you offer your songs to the girl’s schools?
December 16th, 2009 @ 3:09 pm
Thanks for posting this sweet, personal poem. I nearly cried. So many of us have been so close… Thank God we are here to read it, and relate.
Hanukah Sameah!
December 16th, 2009 @ 4:12 pm
How do we define hellenist in a broad sense? Are all movements some Jews belong to that are not Orthodox automatically hellenist? Maybe the definition has been stretched too far.
December 16th, 2009 @ 6:42 pm
Bob, personally I would think that the label ‘Hellenist’ belongs to someone who promotes an ideology/belief identified that way, or behaviors that fit that bill. I agree it is used too loosely by some folks. To be fair, though, we would have to define clearly what the differences are between Torah and Greek culture, and what Jewish Hellenists were trying to create. I have little doubt that there are, indeed, Jews today who qualify as Hellenists.
No, not all non-Orthodox approaches to Judaism are necessarily Hellenist.
Rav Aharon Licktenstein addresses part of this issue far better than I could (no surprise there!): http://www.vbm-torah.org/chanuka/05chaal2.htm
December 16th, 2009 @ 8:55 pm
Response to Moe:
I do presentations at schools with my songs and poems about my journey in Judaism, but I don’t yet have a recording available to give out.
December 17th, 2009 @ 10:45 am
I guess this is off-topic, but I encourage you and other Baalei Teshuva to do more presentations at schools. It’s likely that all of you have an intriguing story to tell and it’s important that schools, all across the spectrum, learn from your life lessons and build a deep respect for the challenges and triumphs that all of you have faced. Approach the schools and sell your product and I bet you’ll be surprised by how open they are to the idea. Teshuva is a fundamental message that no school can turn down if it’s packaged with the right branding.
December 17th, 2009 @ 11:44 am
Interesting idea Moe.
You should know that some BTs see “telling the story” as a little patronizing and diminishing even though FFBs might not intend it that way.
December 17th, 2009 @ 2:16 pm
Thanks for the poem. May all of Hashem’s children see the word Jew stamped on their face this season. I thought the idea of a Baal Teshuva presentation in schools was very nice. If done properly, it could serve to bridge the gap of understanding between FFB and BT, especially by planting seeds early among the children.
December 17th, 2009 @ 5:16 pm
Please feel free to be in touch:bgoetzster@gmail.com. I’m happy to come to any school to give my presentations about the process of becoming a baal teshuva.