Proud Jews in Stockholm
Proud Jews in Stockholm
By Dr. David Rosen
Respect is earned -- ask our newest friends from the Swedish Royal Family -- inheritance helps, but what really counts is one's work and effort. When King Carl XVI Gustaf of the House of Bernadotte took three steps back and bowed to laureate Yisrael, his genius head crowned with a white crocheted kippah -- There was Respect.
The King's Guard Trumpeters sounded from the high mezzanine in front, and fellow trumpeters in the palatial distance regally answered with notes seconding the honor. Even more palpable was the thundering applause signifying the honor this G-d fearing proud Jew engenders.
The Professor, who has recently been unceasingly dogged by reporters, from all over the world, is constantly teaching and enlightening by words of wisdom. As water pours from royal Scandia crystal, our robust bard pours forth Torah.
Prof. Yisrael Aumann's toast at the Nobel Banquet:
"Baruch Atah Adonai Elohainu Melech HaOlam HaTov v'HaMativ; Blessed are you, God, our Lord, Monarch of the Universe, who is good and does good.
After partaking of a meal with excellent wine, we recite this benediction when we are served with a superb wine.
Your Royal Highness, we have, over the years, partaken of an excellent wine. We have participated in the scientific enterprise - studied and taught; preserved, and pushed forward the boundaries of knowledge.
We have participated in the human enterprise - raised beautiful families. And I have participated in the realization of a 2000-year old dream - the return of my people to Jerusalem, to its homeland.
And tonight, we have been served with a superb wine, in the recognition of the worth of our enterprise.
I feel very strongly that this recognition is not only for us, but for all game theory, in Israel and in the whole world - teachers, students, colleagues, and co-workers. And especially to one individual, who is no longer with us - the mother of game theory, Oskar Morgenstern.
So, I offer my thanks to these, to the Nobel Foundation and the Nobel Committee, to our magnificent hosts, the country of Sweden, and the Lord, who is good and does good."
The table settings of brand new gilded heavy silver & fresh from the kiln china & recently blown gold-stemmed crystal stood ready for our kosher pleasure.
The kosher sommelier stood behind us eager to direct his retinue of white gloved and linen toweled wine stewards.
They were uniformed in burgundy red while the divisions of waiters were clothed in epauletted white.
The Chairman of the Board of the Nobel Foundation toasted the laureates; the King of Sweden toasted our unseen benefactor, Alfred Nobel. With the bubbles of the "Skoal" {L'Chaim} still effervescing in our mouth, the attentive waiters dramatically revealed the tender salad leaves hidden in gold & green bordered covered bowls. This was just the beginning. The Royal Banquet is scripted but secret, it is the highlight of dark early winter. TV crews and reporters stood in the pillared shadows; the media buildup in Scandinavia is monumental.
Conversation, at first hesitant with our unknown table neighbors (family and colleagues of laureates, integrated man, woman, man) began to flow with the seemingly limitless flow of fine kosher wines and very special kosher old pale liquors.
The very Swedish menu of rare snow-grouse-breast covered in reindeer meat and forest herbs was NOT served to the 36 of us. The kosher contingent enjoyed a much less gamy fare of goose covered in fillet of beef. That tasty texture was relished along with whole blanched green snow beans and northern forest champignons in espagnole roux. Differential change was geared by the partially processed, fried and then baked, pommes de terre and slightly caramelized pommes de arbre.
The musical and visual interludes of choral singers bearing cut forest flowers is apparently in the best tradition of these long dark Northern nights. Collars and head decorations of dainty baby breath, crocus, lilies, and other delicate bulb petals feasted the eyes with pale yellows, pinks and whites as the framboises arctiques artistically contrasted the sorbet and then tickled the tongue.
The snowy, dark (sunlight merely from 8 to 3) & cool reception (i.e. cold: -4 C) was more than balanced by the wish and ability to please and accommodate. The helicopter overhead, the athletic ear pieced ushers, the polished stretch Volvo limousine drivers and the diplomatic ever-accommodating Nobel attendant, Annika Klangstrom, have all earned their keep! Annika knew the routine from last year. The efficient and capable Ms. Klangstrom was one of the first Swedish diplomats on the scene of the tsunami where so many of her countrymen were lost. Although being a Nobel attendant is a once-in-a-lifetime plum for a Swedish diplomat, worthy Annika was awarded this honor two years in a row.
The doormen, bellmen and housekeeping staff already know more about the difficulties of electricity use on Shabbat than most Europeans. The shatnez story, the prohibition of Jews wearing weaved-together wool & linen, made for big interest in the Swedish press & media, so much so, I think I can safely say more Swedes know about shatnez than all the other Europeans and Africans combined.
Yisrael's contingent walked on Shabbat. The orthodox community is in one direction, while the ChaBaD is exactly opposite. The old synagogue and chader now reinvigorated by the Lubavitchers is situated on the far side of a bridge that spans the significant Malaren where it rushes into the frigid Baltic. Afterwards, Kiddush was partaken in the relatively close Jewish Community Center, attended by His Excellency, the Israeli Ambassador (the Swedes know
protocol!) The Jewish community of Stockholm, while always small, was given a Royal Charter way back in 1790. Today it honors a Swede, a Righteous of the Nations Hero in a big way. The JCC is adjacent to the twelve raw bronze sculptures comprising the Raoul Wallenberg Square...the invisible shield."Who is Good and Does Good!"
While we no doubt have earned curiosity (and not a little bit of envy) for our ideals over the last 4000 years,
in the last 6 days in Stockholm we witnessed the unfurling of the azure Shield of David on a striped Tallis banner flying high in the center of Stockholm -- opposite the Royal Palace - flying high and proudly proclaiming a respected place along side the U.S. Stars & Stripes, the British Union Jack, the Australian Southern Constellation, the vertical stripes of France and the horizontal of Germany.
The exemplary life of Our Teacher, Yisrael ben Reb Shlomo - may his days and years be lengthened - has given new honor to the whole of Am Yisrael: Respect fit for a King.
By Dr. David Rosen
Respect is earned -- ask our newest friends from the Swedish Royal Family -- inheritance helps, but what really counts is one's work and effort. When King Carl XVI Gustaf of the House of Bernadotte took three steps back and bowed to laureate Yisrael, his genius head crowned with a white crocheted kippah -- There was Respect.
The King's Guard Trumpeters sounded from the high mezzanine in front, and fellow trumpeters in the palatial distance regally answered with notes seconding the honor. Even more palpable was the thundering applause signifying the honor this G-d fearing proud Jew engenders.
The Professor, who has recently been unceasingly dogged by reporters, from all over the world, is constantly teaching and enlightening by words of wisdom. As water pours from royal Scandia crystal, our robust bard pours forth Torah.
Prof. Yisrael Aumann's toast at the Nobel Banquet:
"Baruch Atah Adonai Elohainu Melech HaOlam HaTov v'HaMativ; Blessed are you, God, our Lord, Monarch of the Universe, who is good and does good.
After partaking of a meal with excellent wine, we recite this benediction when we are served with a superb wine.
Your Royal Highness, we have, over the years, partaken of an excellent wine. We have participated in the scientific enterprise - studied and taught; preserved, and pushed forward the boundaries of knowledge.
We have participated in the human enterprise - raised beautiful families. And I have participated in the realization of a 2000-year old dream - the return of my people to Jerusalem, to its homeland.
And tonight, we have been served with a superb wine, in the recognition of the worth of our enterprise.
I feel very strongly that this recognition is not only for us, but for all game theory, in Israel and in the whole world - teachers, students, colleagues, and co-workers. And especially to one individual, who is no longer with us - the mother of game theory, Oskar Morgenstern.
So, I offer my thanks to these, to the Nobel Foundation and the Nobel Committee, to our magnificent hosts, the country of Sweden, and the Lord, who is good and does good."
The table settings of brand new gilded heavy silver & fresh from the kiln china & recently blown gold-stemmed crystal stood ready for our kosher pleasure.
The kosher sommelier stood behind us eager to direct his retinue of white gloved and linen toweled wine stewards.
They were uniformed in burgundy red while the divisions of waiters were clothed in epauletted white.
The Chairman of the Board of the Nobel Foundation toasted the laureates; the King of Sweden toasted our unseen benefactor, Alfred Nobel. With the bubbles of the "Skoal" {L'Chaim} still effervescing in our mouth, the attentive waiters dramatically revealed the tender salad leaves hidden in gold & green bordered covered bowls. This was just the beginning. The Royal Banquet is scripted but secret, it is the highlight of dark early winter. TV crews and reporters stood in the pillared shadows; the media buildup in Scandinavia is monumental.
Conversation, at first hesitant with our unknown table neighbors (family and colleagues of laureates, integrated man, woman, man) began to flow with the seemingly limitless flow of fine kosher wines and very special kosher old pale liquors.
The very Swedish menu of rare snow-grouse-breast covered in reindeer meat and forest herbs was NOT served to the 36 of us. The kosher contingent enjoyed a much less gamy fare of goose covered in fillet of beef. That tasty texture was relished along with whole blanched green snow beans and northern forest champignons in espagnole roux. Differential change was geared by the partially processed, fried and then baked, pommes de terre and slightly caramelized pommes de arbre.
The musical and visual interludes of choral singers bearing cut forest flowers is apparently in the best tradition of these long dark Northern nights. Collars and head decorations of dainty baby breath, crocus, lilies, and other delicate bulb petals feasted the eyes with pale yellows, pinks and whites as the framboises arctiques artistically contrasted the sorbet and then tickled the tongue.
The snowy, dark (sunlight merely from 8 to 3) & cool reception (i.e. cold: -4 C) was more than balanced by the wish and ability to please and accommodate. The helicopter overhead, the athletic ear pieced ushers, the polished stretch Volvo limousine drivers and the diplomatic ever-accommodating Nobel attendant, Annika Klangstrom, have all earned their keep! Annika knew the routine from last year. The efficient and capable Ms. Klangstrom was one of the first Swedish diplomats on the scene of the tsunami where so many of her countrymen were lost. Although being a Nobel attendant is a once-in-a-lifetime plum for a Swedish diplomat, worthy Annika was awarded this honor two years in a row.
The doormen, bellmen and housekeeping staff already know more about the difficulties of electricity use on Shabbat than most Europeans. The shatnez story, the prohibition of Jews wearing weaved-together wool & linen, made for big interest in the Swedish press & media, so much so, I think I can safely say more Swedes know about shatnez than all the other Europeans and Africans combined.
Yisrael's contingent walked on Shabbat. The orthodox community is in one direction, while the ChaBaD is exactly opposite. The old synagogue and chader now reinvigorated by the Lubavitchers is situated on the far side of a bridge that spans the significant Malaren where it rushes into the frigid Baltic. Afterwards, Kiddush was partaken in the relatively close Jewish Community Center, attended by His Excellency, the Israeli Ambassador (the Swedes know
protocol!) The Jewish community of Stockholm, while always small, was given a Royal Charter way back in 1790. Today it honors a Swede, a Righteous of the Nations Hero in a big way. The JCC is adjacent to the twelve raw bronze sculptures comprising the Raoul Wallenberg Square...the invisible shield."Who is Good and Does Good!"
While we no doubt have earned curiosity (and not a little bit of envy) for our ideals over the last 4000 years,
in the last 6 days in Stockholm we witnessed the unfurling of the azure Shield of David on a striped Tallis banner flying high in the center of Stockholm -- opposite the Royal Palace - flying high and proudly proclaiming a respected place along side the U.S. Stars & Stripes, the British Union Jack, the Australian Southern Constellation, the vertical stripes of France and the horizontal of Germany.
The exemplary life of Our Teacher, Yisrael ben Reb Shlomo - may his days and years be lengthened - has given new honor to the whole of Am Yisrael: Respect fit for a King.
posted by Peter | 9:21 AM
<< Home