The Jews of New York - Touching Tribute

This week, PBS Television re-ran an extraordinary documentary narrated by Tovah Feldshuh, called The Jews of New York. According to the film's website: "THE JEWS OF NEW YORK profiles Jewish individuals and institutions that changed the face of New York, woven together with expert commentary, to present a broad spectrum of the ways in which the Jewish community has impacted secular New York life from the earliest immigrants through today."

Profiles in the documentary include incisive histories of New York's groundbreaking Mount Sinai Hospital, the making of the legendary Broadway show (and film), "Fiddler on the Roof" (explaining its New York origins), the Schiff Family (including the remarkable philanthropy of Jacob Schiff), and an interview with ubiquitous former New York Mayor, Ed Koch. Most touching for me, however, are portraits of the Hasidic Rabbi, Haskel Besser -- which really must be seen/heard to be appreciated -- and of the Russ Family of the Lower East Side's more than 100 year-old "Russ & Daughters Appetizers" (an unparalleled Jewish food shop). As for the latter, I find the most tear-inducing, special part to be that the most recent generation of Russ's is now, with aplomb, keeping the tradition.

I don't identify a lot with the Jewish portion of my heritage. I am more parts Italian-American Catholic (my mom's side) and German/Hungarian-American Agnostic Socialist (my dad's side) than Jewish. However, my great-grandmother -- my father's father's mother, whom I knew as a child and who lived 99 years -- was a Jewish immigrant from Germany to the U.S. This, of course, made my grandfather (my father's father) Jewish. However, there, for my lineage, it stopped--my grandmother, my father's mother, was not Jewish and the bloodline ended with my grandfather. Perhaps it is that fact -- something "in my blood" -- which drew me so much to the beauty and sentimentality (the most positive meaning of that word) of this documentary? Perhaps it is just being a New Yorker? New Yorkers of any ethnic background, of my generation and many, many New York generations before mine, felt the rich culture of Jews as an integral part of the fabric of the city. The food, the influences on the healthcare, financial, education, legal systems and so much more, the language (I grew up using Yiddish words without even knowing they were Yiddish!), the music, the art, the film, the Orchard Street of old... so, so much. It is certainly that, plus having a Jewish great-grandmother and grandfather (and when he remarried after divorcing my grandmother many years before I was born, he married a Jewish woman--an Austrian immigrant who spoke fluent Yiddish), which called my attention to many of the nuances of this terrific cinematic work.

It is also the craft with which the Jews of New York was made which captured my attention. It is a very simple film, but while it is sentimental in the right ways, it never oversentimentalizes (if that is a word!) even when being nostalgic. It lets the interviewees tell their stories in a very straightforward and contemporary way. Another not-to-be-missed work!

Clips (on the film's website, with more available):

• Three Generations of the Russ Family: http://www.jewsofnewyork.org/stories/three-generations-of-the-russ-family
• Hasidic Rabbi Haskel Besser: http://www.jewsofnewyork.org/stories/hasidic-rabbi-haskel-besser

Philippine Independence Day Parade NYC 2008

I've had a lifelong fascination with, and have learned a great deal about, Asian and Asian-American culture. I just attended the 2008 Philippine Independence Day Parade and Celebration in NYC. Ironically, with no Filipino heritage whatsoever in my background, I was a member of, and later an officer (!) in the Philippine-American Organization of the City College of New York, C.U.N.Y. when I was an undergraduate student.

The latter fact is very interesting. I had occasion to see a dear friend at today's parade -- who is visiting NYC with his wife and three children -- with whom I attended college, who was the reason I joined the C.C.N.Y. Filipino/a Club. I had not seen my friend Romy in nearly 15 years when his daughter, Chelsea, was first born. Chelsea, now at 15, is a beautiful young woman but was an infant when I last saw her. It is such a fascinating emotional "journey" when one sees friends again after such a long time. I feel very special to know that my friend is alive, well, thriving and has such a lovely family.

(Romy and me, NYC June 2008)

One of the most important aspects of the event for me was the political activism. I'm glad to see people not just being part of corporations (and advertising them), or politicians with their "canned" appearances, but real cultural organizations with voices. Moreover, there were protests for immigrant rights and for rice production/import-export which were profound statements in an otherwise politically-quiet event.

The colors, as usual, were beautiful this year. What I missed, however, was music. There was very little music at today's parade. This was something conspicuously not Filipino for a a Filipino/a event, for there is always music and dancing in any Filipino celebration. Following the parade, however, was a festival which would certainly find many musical performances from local and even international talent. I wished I had been up to attending the festival as well--I'm still recovering from a recent medical incident which tires me more than usual.

Another fact is that, when I was in college and a member of the C.C.N.Y. "P.A.O.", I weighed approximately 300 pounds. I since lost over 150 pounds--okay, okay, give or take 20 depending on my life state at any given moment! Still, I am a dramatically different person physically than I was during my college years. This is an eye-opening revelation for some friends whom I have not seen since my PAO involvement. Others from those now long-ago days who have seen me in years since are somewhat amazed that I've kept my weight off. In my mind, I had no choice--I'm sure it has kept me alive.

With such wonderful yet complex memories of my college years and a beautiful parade on a gorgeous New York afternoon, what a nice way to spend a day! :-)

From YouTube

Sunshine in NYC!

It is FINALLY sunny and warm in NYC! It has been chilly and gloomy throughout May.

I've said it every year for the past several years... we don't get the extended, brutal, subzero (Fahrenheit) January and February weather of the past -- most likely a result of global warming -- but the cool, yucky weather lasts a lot longer. I've said to friends who also live in NYC (I'm a life-long Manhattanite and have seen many, many New York winters and springs), "we don't have the terrible winters anymore but the cold lasts until May or even June". Everyone to whom I say this, every year over the past decade, has dismissed it, even though they live through and complain about the "new" weather each year.

With escalating real estate, fuel and other prices affecting everything in New York -- quality of life, service, dining out, attitudes (a lot of discussion about this topic but I will leave it for another post/several posts in future), etc. -- and the cold, dark spring weather (something I've hated since I lost almost 150 pounds more than two decades ago) make it harder and harder to justify living in what, arguably, is still, despite its many long-time and newer flaws, one of the greatest cities in the world.

For today, however, even though I've been recuperating from an illness throughout May -- I had an unexpected stay in hospital (for the first time in my life) a couple of weeks ago to battle an infection -- I will definitely take a walk and enjoy the beauty that is Manhattan in the sun. :-)