Miriam Bat Murray, and: Tirza Acknowledges G!D’s Pettiness, and: Miriam from The Diaspora of Alaska

Miriam Bat Murray, and: Tirza Acknowledges G!D’s Pettiness, and: Miriam from The Diaspora of Alaska Julie R. Enszer (bio) Before my father diedhe woke every morningat 6 a.m. drank coffeedressed and walked outthe door at 6:40 a.m.He walked a mile on the streets ofHoboken to the shulwhere he prayedin the morning minyan When he failed to arriveone Wednesday the rabbiwent to his houseknocked on the doorand when he did not answerthe rabbi peered into the backbedroom window to see himlying dead in the bedhe shared for sixtyyears with my mother I flew home three flightstwo connections from Anchorageto sit on low hard stools for my fatherthen extended my trip a weekto attend morning minyan [End Page 129] where my father prayed each dayand where they did not countme for daily petitions Often absent my father Murraythey were one or two Jews shortand we all waited for another manto arrive murmuring quietlywhen the room felt fullwith nine men and me I overlookedhow only pricks counteduntil the rabbiexplained to me againthat I should return to my familythat I had no obligationto say kaddishfor my fatherthat even when I didstand and recite the ancient wordsmy prayers were not heardmy prayers would not hasten his arrivalin the world to comeor bring divine rest to his soul When the rabbiexplained againhow I did not countin G!d’s eyesI looked into hisand with all the poetrythat my father Murrayhad taught me I saidRabbi, I know what it isto not count in man’s eyesbut none of us knowwhat counts—who counts—in the eyes of G!d. [End Page 130] TIRZA ACKNOWLEDGES G!D’S PETTINESS Julie R. Enszer These days not allthe lamed-vavniks are Jewsthough many have some Hebraic lineage for others like Cellestinait is remote if present at allShe likes to say I am the descendent of DahomeyAfrican queenpredecessor to the nation of Benin She also boastslike Ginsburg and Whitman’s(literal metaphorical) seminal connection she can trace her lineagehand by sweet sticky handto Audre Lorde We all smile and nodas if we knowwhat she means Today is specialfor CellestinaToday she is the longest-serving lamed-vavnik G!d picked her in 1983when she wasjust twenty-three he wanted someone Blackand if I’m being honestit was a rebuff to Ronald Reagan [End Page 131] and his smear of welfare queensby any measure Cellestinawas the kind of woman he had in mind receiving food aid(but not driving a Cadillac)three young children and smart as a whipshe knew what this countryowed her after the failed reparationsof slavery(for years when she spoke she askedwhere is my land?where is my mule?) after the years of votingdenied and substandardeducation Cellestina wanted to rightit all and Reagannever realized what his words called fortha lamed-vavnik who wasyoung Black angry militant Cellestina was notyour bubbe’s lamed-vavnikShe was the beginning of the string of womennew righteous onesCellestina is hardworking [End Page 132] and funnya giver of light to Chicago’s southsideShe reminds G!d of endurancethe importance of lasting presenceof power to remake the world [End Page 133] MIRIAM FROM THE DIASPORA OF ALASKA Julie R. Enszer After I took thosethree flights in reverseback home to AlaskaI woke each morning at 6 a.m.and followed my father’s patternwalking a circular milearound my own housebefore facing eastbefore opening the prayerbookand murmuringYitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei raba Everyday for a year aloneno Jews around me like my fatherin Hoboken but his spiritG!d’s spirit compelled methat entire yearbefore I flew back three flightsfor...