Honoring our Fathers and Mothers
June 15, 2008
Community | Holidays | Lifecycle
(1 comments)
By JanetheWriter
A short piece on the editorials and letters page in Friday's New York Times suggests that according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, "the Lower East Side is one of the 11 most endangered places in America..." The article mentions several neighborhood landmarks, including The Eldridge Street Synagogue which, following a recently completed multi-million dollar restoration is now known as the Museum at Eldridge Street.
Dating from 1887 and widely known to be the first synagogue built "from scratch" in America by Eastern European Jews, the continuously operational Eldridge Street Synagogue is an architectural, cultural and historical gem. This Sunday's "Egg Rolls and Egg Creams" Festival celebrates the rich heritage and history of the immigrants--Jewish, Chinese, Italian, and others--for whom the neighborhood was the "Plymouth Rock" in their pilgrimage to America. Indeed, it was so for my grandparents, and on this Father's Day weekend, it is most fitting to honor them--our grandmothers and our grandfathers--for their moxie in making the journey and ensuring a better life for us all.
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We just returned from a fireworks show for Independence Day. There was a huge crowd of of all ages, all races and religions who had come together in celebration. There was music (God Bless America, Coming to America, Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA, John Philip Soussa's Stars and Stripes Forever, the Marine Corps Hymn, and many more) and food and drinks. They had a thrilling fly over by a number of our fighter planes before dark. Then a spectacular fireworks show began, accompanied by patriotic music. It was just wonderful!
There are few days in the entire history of the Jewish people that can compare with July 4, 1776 for importance. None in the modern age have meant more for the welfare and happiness of Jews. We have been here from the very beginning, defending her with our lives, our treasure and our sacred honor. Nowhere and at no time have Jews had the freedom, security and opportunity afforded us in the United States. And without the U.S., there likely never would have been a state of Israel to shelter the refugees from oppression of Europe and the Middle East.
God has truly blessed this land. May it ever be so.