I guess this is inevitable. It's the first overnight music video after the three week mourning period, and of course I'm going to run a classic video of Im Eshkachech Yerushalayim (If I forget thee O Jerusalem, may my right hand be forgotten, may my tongue cleave to my cheek if I don't remember you, if I don't mention Jerusalem at the head of my moments of joy), which is about the theme of the last three weeks, and which is a part of every Jewish wedding.
Tonight is the first night of another very hectic three week wedding season. So far I one wedding I plan to attend this week (another one next week conflicts with a bigger event for me personally - see below). I also have a Bar Mitzva this week and a wedding right after the three-week period ends.
Thursday is the end of the 12th cycle of the Daf Yomi - the daily folio - in which the entire 2,711 page Babylonian Talmud is being finished. I will be finishing with my daily class, but I am holding off on the siyum (personal celebration) for a week because next Thursday is the yahrtzeit (anniversary of the death) of my mother of blessed memory.
And then there's next Monday, a week from tonight....
Next Monday is Mrs. Carl's and my 31st anniversary, God willing. The smartest decision I ever made in my life....
Next Monday is also the Bar Mitzva of our 18th anniversary present, a very special young man who is finishing the Six Orders of Mishna for his Bar Mitzva, God willing. He's son # 3, child # 6, he's a great kid and we're really proud of him and his amazing set of accomplishments (there's much more I won't go into). The reason I was gone for so many hours today (and I had posted several hours in advance before I left, so I was gone even longer than you realize) was that I had to take him shopping for Bar Mitzva accessories. So if I occasionally disappear during the next week or so, I hope you will understand.
And now, Im Eshkacheich. I'm sorry but I went totally blank on who sang this one.
I so enjoyed this at the wedding last night that I decided to play it for you again. Here's Yaakov Shwekey's Im Eshkacheich (If I forget thee O Jerusalem).
This post was supposed to go up at 3:24 am but did not because Blogger was down for maintenance. I am re-posting it.
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It's the first overnight music video in more than three weeks, it's the day after we finished our annual mourning period for the Temple, and we're now heading for a three-week frenzy of weddings.
Can anyone guess what I'm going to play tonight?
Here's Yaakov Shwekey with Im Eshkacheich (If I forget thee O Jerusalem).
Let's go to the videotape.
The route that the video takes to the Western Wall is the exact route my three youngest sons (nearly 12, 9 and 7) walked on Tuesday afternoon... until the video went to the women's section.
Tonight's a big wedding night here in Israel. At the end of the ceremony, we sing Im Eshkacheich Yerushalayim Tishkach Yemini (If I forget thee O Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten). No, Muslims sing nothing like that.
Let's go to the videotape.
By the time you all see this video, I should be on my way to the airport. I'm flying to Boston again on Monday. Unfortunately, I'm going with two major stopovers, so you may not even notice I'm traveling. If I can stay awake... And I have lots of work to do on the trip.... But I'll try to post while I'm traveling. I arrive in Boston on Monday night and will be there for about two weeks.
I'm still waiting for a good video of the night's fireworks at Mount Herzl (it's just before Midnight here - this post is being scheduled for much later), but in the meantime....
When you have a few moments watch this video and remember how blessed we are to be Jews and have our own homeland, no matter how difficult - it is sure to bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye.
On a very depressing evening, a reminder of what's at stake. This was filmed coming up to Dung Gate from the East and then going into the Kotel plaza. It was filmed the night after Purim last year.
Let's go to the videotape.
Some of us seem to have forgotten Jerusalem or to believe that it can live in isolation. It cannot for long.
I am an Orthodox Jew - some would even call me 'ultra-Orthodox.' Born in Boston, I was a corporate and securities attorney in New York City for seven years before making aliya to Israel in 1991 (I don't look it but I really am that old :-). I have been happily married to the same woman for thirty-five years, and we have eight children (bli ayin hara) ranging in age from 13 to 33 years and nine grandchildren. Four of our children are married! Before I started blogging I was a heavy contributor on a number of email lists and ran an email list called the Matzav from 2000-2004. You can contact me at: IsraelMatzav at gmail dot com
