Nostalgia

I have just watched a profoundly moving clip, and it seems my experience was not unique. I have spoken to two others in my age bracket who have seen it and were moved to tears. Perhaps by setting my jumbled emotions and thoughts to words, they will coalesce into a coherent theme. Let me give it a try.

I viewed, as I’m sure many readers have, a kumzitz that took place on Zos Chanukah in honor of the celebrated choir leader, Yigal Calek, together with many of the “alumni” of London School of Jewish Song (only the Brits would think of such a name). It seems they gathered to be mechazeik Reb Yigal after he suffered a devastating stroke that left him effectively blind.

At the very beginning of the clip he says he does not have eyes to see, but he can cry… Then his former choir boys, now graying, upper-middle-aged men, interrupt him and break into song with the London School classic, “Mini koleich mibechi.” They go on singing London classics for over an hour, and the atmosphere is just electric.

But that is not the right adjective. I think the right word is “rich.”