A point of clarification on my last blog entry about SOB (sister of blogger) and DOB (dad of blogger) and the documentary they saw on Sholom Aleichem:
Sholom Aleichem was the great Yiddish writer/playwright’s nom de plume. It is a Yiddish variant of the Hebrew “shalom aleichem,” meaning “peace be with you”. The correct response, is “aleichem shalom.”
Shalom Aleichem is also a song for the Sabbath (check out this video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72wDlNi3fJs
(Translation: Peace unto you, ministering angels, messengers of the Most High, of the supreme King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He. May your coming be in peace angels of peace, messengers of the Most High, of the supreme King of kings, the Holy one, blessed be He. Bless me with peace, angels of peace, messengers of the Most High, of the supreme King of kings, the Holy one, blessed be He. May your departure be in peace, angels of peace, messengers of the Most High, of the supreme King of kings, the Holy one, blessed be He.)
It is relevant, in some miniscule way, to this blog entry.
Today, SOB took TLP (our son, the little prince) to have lunch with DOB and then see the movie, “Cars2.” TLP was telling SOB and DOB about his favorite parts of camp and he mentioned that Shabbat services was a Friday high point. Now, there is a totally irreligious reason for this: TLP gets an extra snack of grape juice and challah. SCORE!!!!
Unfortunately, even though no one even mentioned Sholom Aleichem for almost 7 full days, DOB immediately launched into his off-key rendition of “Shalom Aleichem” in full voice for the, er, um, benefit (?) of all within earshot — other patrons of the diner and assorted vermin hiding to get away from the cacophony.
So, two irreconcilable desires derive from this episode: One, we all agree never to mention anything about Shabbat ever again in DOB’s presence, even the innocent references made by TLP. The other, is to see how quickly we can trigger the song in DOB at any time and all the time. The first option would save our sanity but the second option has a slightly mischievous appeal even though it would be tantamount to mutual assured destruction.
SOB and I are dutiful and loving daughters. Which do you think we chose? The latter of course. And, to make it even crazier, we bet on it. With each other, we only bet in the millions of dollars so we are always going for broke. It seems appropriate since we are betting on our sanity and that of DOB.
DOB is coming for dinner tomorrow night. SOB has to work, so I have the advantage. I might meet him downstairs so that I trigger it even before he crosses the threshold. I am the evil younger sibling.
But, SOB needn’t worry about transferring assets so quickly. There will always be new bets, even more cynical and macabre bets, long before the Final Accounting is due. (And, as I understand, Hell doesn’t take cash or credit cards.)
But until then, hum with me: ♫ Sha-lom a-lei-chem, mal-a-chei ha-sha-reit, mal-a-chei el-yon, mi-me-lech ma-l’chei ha-m’la-chim, ha-ka-dosh ba-ruch hu. . . . ♫
