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