Why are there so many songs about rainbows?” asks Kermit the Frog.
Last week, I was talking to my friend Rev. Matthew Harper who has been spending time in Jerusalem, and the conversation turned to rainbows, then to “Over the Rainbow.” I vaguely recalled that it was Jewish songwriters who penned the lyrics and wrote the music; but as I alluded to in my recent article about Maurice Sendak, I tend to consume art for the work itself, often learning only later about the artist. “Over the Rainbow” is all about Dorothy and “The Wizard of Oz,” about the universal experience of hoping for redemption, the perfect world without daily strife.
Rev. Harper lent a totally new perspective: How much were Over the Rainbow’s songwriters Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg influenced by their Jewish heritage, either consciously or subconsciously?
Dorothy’s dream is one the Jewish community has had since time immemorial.
Arlen’s music and Harburg’s lyrics are transportive — haunting and hopeful — two adjectives that in my opinion define the Jewish people.
Was Harburg seeking in 1939 to give voice to Jewish prayers in Europe? The extremely spooky lyric “high above the chimney tops” is surely coincidental, and until Rev. Harper pointed it out, I’d never taken any special notice of the word choice. Now, all I can see when I hear that line are places like Auschwitz-Birkenau, inmates like my great-aunt and her children, dreaming of a land “where the clouds are far behind me.”
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I’ve found an antidote for February doldrums! Ahead of BBYO’s international conference next month in Denver, the global Jewish organization is holding a Global Ambassadors week, with delegates from all across the world. I’ve signed up to be a host, and am having fun brainstorming activities (Nuggets game) and a gift bag (cozy slippers for my chilly condo).
They are still looking for host families, so if you’ve got a spare room, consider signing up. Ilana Steinberg is coordinating locally (bbyoicgaw@gmail.com).
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Seeking your collective advice! A very important post-Chanukah query came from a reader last week: How do you clean your menorah of wax? Methods including the freezer, hot water, nut picks or penknives never seem to fully do the trick. Please share your preferred method, especially if you’ve found one that actually works!
Shana Goldberg may be reached at shana@ijn.com
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