destroyed; but now, we are
rebuilding Jewish life here.
“Your wedding in Krakow is a
symbol of our people’s resilience
and ability to start over and start
fresh — and that’s something
very special.
”
HEARTFELT MOMENTS
Freda’s son, Dan Arlow of San
Francisco, walked his mother
to the chuppah just after Dan’s
wife, June, escorted me there.
All wedding arrangements
were made by the very helpful
JCC Krakow staff, including a
heimish kosher dinner for 25
guests.
In the middle the wedding
ceremony, Aunt Lucia left her
seat and sauntered right up
to the chuppah and playful-
ly kibitzed with the rabbi in
Polish. But at the end, when
it came time for the symbol-
ic breaking of the glass, the
rabbi explained that even
during joyful times, Jews must
not forget the tragedies that
have befallen them. Lucia
was brought to tears during
the singing of the mournful
Hebrew psalm, “If I forget
thee, O Jerusalem.”
Lucia, however, who had
experienced so much tragedy
and hardship under Nazism and
communism during her century
of life, rebounded. She smiled
gleefully as circular dancing
and the singing of “Siman Tov
u’Mazel Tov” broke out after the
breaking of the glass.
Along with Lucia, Freda and I
were overcome with joy.
Mission accomplished!
Freda and
Aunt Lucia
communicate
in Yiddish.
GRZEGORZ LYKA
GRZEGORZ LYKA
IN
THE
JEWS D
Paid for by Oakland
County Health Division.
We can’t forget the danger. Wear the
mask. Wash your hands. Practice physical
distancing. Consider virtual gatherings.
Curbside food pickup.
For more holiday safety tips,
visit oakgov.com/covid.
THE ONLY WAY TO BEAT
COVID-19 IS TO FACE IT.
Paid for by Oakland
County Health Division.
We can’t forget the danger. Wear the
mask. Wash your hands. Practice physical
distancing. Consider virtual gatherings.
For more holiday safety tips,
.
COVID-19 IS TO FACE IT.
Rabbi Avi Baumol
explains why a glass
is broken at the
end of the wedding
ceremony.
continued from page 27
28 | DECEMBER 24 • 2020