LA JOLLA, California — Three talented poets read their works over Zoom last Tuesday evening for the opening program of Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices’ 12th season. Hosted by Lawrence JCC’s staff member, Melanie Rubin, and MCed by Joy Heitzmann, the three outstanding presenters were Lorraine Thall, June Gottleib and Todd Salovey. There were 70 audience members, including some from outside of San Diego. All three poets read with dramatic expressiveness and clear pronunciation, revealing their onstage talents. June Gottleib, a veteran Slam poet, was particularly entertaining. Samples of their poetry are included in this article.
Continuing their season, Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices will be presenting a student poetry night on Tuesday, January 19, 7:00 p.m. So far, students from the San Diego Jewish Academy, the Portland Jewish Academy, Temple Solel, and one student from Los Angeles are firmly committed to participate. Other schools have shown interest and, hopefully, will also be taking part. Following the hour-long student readings, there will be a half hour of open mic where other students and adults will be invited to participate.
On Tuesday, March 16, will be the next evening featuring local poets. For that evening, Susan Lipson, Annette Friend and Jen Laffler will be the featured
poets, followed by a half hour of open mic.
The concluding program of the season will take place on Tuesday, May 4, 7:00 p.m. This program will feature two Jewish Poets of the past, Natan Alterman and Zelda. Readers in Hebrew and English will present the works of the two Israeli poets and Elisheva Edelson and Myla Wingard will sing some of the songs set to their lyrics.
At this time, all four programs are scheduled to be presented on Zoom.
Lorraine Thall’s poem was inspired by the performance of Verdi’s Requiem at Terezin when the International Red Cross was in attendance.
Defiant Requiem by Lorraine Thall
The faint whistleblow
Sounds in the distance
Trains taking wretches to their final existence
While minor chords on broken keys
Annoy with their dissonance
A quiet and solemn beginning
Ushering silence from the watching crowd
Filled with dignitaries fiercely proud
of the most elaborate pretense
The Reich would allow
Cruel promises of retribution
Keeping the prisoners cowed
Who put on their best game face
Yet remain secretly unbowed
In just ten minutes, the Dies Irae proclaims
That G*d’s judgment will be unflinchingly strict
The tremors of His wrath will zealously afflict
Those who defy humanity with their unholy edict
To destroy the innocent lives of those forced to lick their spit
But that judgment is tardy
Because no sooner said than done
The deportations will start after the last note is sung
Throughout the performance
The musicians keep soldiering through
The exhausted conductor’s baton keeping their focus anew
One movement after another
They follow the euphonious path
of temporary salvation
From the inevitable aftermath–
A return to the relentless barbarity
And ruthless decrees
of commanders bringing the reluctantly cooperative to their knees
The Requiem’s final prayer
Libera Me
Is the desperate cry of
“Deliver Me”
It’s the hope of the Jewish people
Eternal and unrelenting
Despite all the evil so disorienting
Redemption, always out of reach,
Being painfully sought
Through these musical fits and starts
Its seekers know they might survive
By being obsequious and ever-compliant
But in their heart of hearts
They are forever. . .
Defiant
I’m a Jewish Artist, Because… 1997 by Todd Salovey
(Dedicated to Jeff and Sheila Lipinsky)
I’m a Jewish Artist because:
I like to play…. and pray.
I’m a Jewish artist because I laugh and cry at the same time.
I’m a Jewish Artist because my soul is nourished by mystery and beauty
Because I have music in my dreams in scales I’ve never heard before
Because I see rhythms, feel words, and hear shapes
Because 75 years ago, and 300 years ago, and 2000 years ago feel like yesterday.
Because I was born from a Jewish mother and I didn’t make the baseball team
I’m a Jewish artist because my older brother already was a doctor
Because I want to see G-d while I’m at work
Because I want to be the creator too.
Because art may be one thing that brings Jews together
Because on Chanukah while the other kids were playing dreidel, I was sitting by the menorah staring at the flames.
Because wrapped in a tallis on Shabbos with my daughter and son beside me I feel a shimmering flame and I want to share it.
I’m a Jewish artist because to be a light unto the nations I must first find the light in myself.
*
WATCH AND WAIT by June Gottleib
I might be sitting near her or
just passing through the room
but always I would stop
while she stood there.
Small body swaying
bobbing up and down
head covered by
a scarf
a shawl
a kitchen towel.
No face visible
only her body,
up and down, while
her hands clasped together in prayer
over the flaming shabbos candles.
And as I watched,
my beloved Bubbi,
like a bride,
made her Friday night connection
with God, and I knew
something very mysterious was occurring
Yet I knew not what.
And as I watched
I would hear the murmurings from
under that covered head,
not from everyday speech,
but sounds deep in Bubbi’s soul
that spoke from a place in her heart.
Sometimes a whisper
sometimes a wail
sounds she knew,
by ears not visible,
were heard, and understood.
And still I waited.
I saw the candles flicker
casting shadows round the room,
round her figure,
Friday night shadows
of a presence we both knew was there.
And when it was all over
I watched her lift her veil,
waited while she wiped
her tear-stained face,
until she opened her eyes and
I saw the soft glow on her wrinkled skin
that let me know she was at peace
with her world once more.
*
Eileen Wingard, a retired violinist with the San Diego Symphony, is a freelance writer who specializes coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eileen.wingard @sdjewishworld.com