A Gentle Man: Cantor Summers

(Pretend there is a scary picture of Jack Nicholson here. I Googled to find one but they were so scary, I don't even want them on my blog.)

(OK, maybe just a small one.)

Today I screamed at Oscar like a total maniac over something totally unworthy--full on, eyeballs popping out of my head SCREAMING, terrible things that one should not say to one's worst enemies, let alone one's super adorable, if ever so slightly impish, three-year-old child. I was like, well... see above.

When my kids do something wrong, and then they say they're sorry, I tell them, "Don't say you are sorry. Just do the right thing." So I'm just trying to get back on the gentleness horse and not pitch myself into the river with my pockets full of stones. I'm just going to try again tomorrow to be more gentle. (Though I should apologize too.)

I will try to blog more. I think if I try to blog something gentle every day, it might help me. 

Here is a video of a gentle man, a man we just lost on New Year's Day, Cantor Norman Summers. He was the cantor at my hometown temple for over 50 years. His gorgeous voice is the voice I hear in my head when I read any Hebrew prayer. Lucky me! Lucky all of us to have had him. I was absolutely shocked to read that he was twice rejected by Hebrew Union College, because his voice was so, so beautiful. The sanctuary of the temple where I grew up is an absolutely enormous room. It has a stained-glass window that is 80 feet tall. And Cantor Summers's voice filled that room like a cello--warm and resonant. 

 

I wish I had a good personal anecdote, but I can't think of any. My mom probably does. Until just now, she used to bump into him at the grocery store, where they would have a hug in the produce aisle. All I can think of is that when I was studying for my Bat Mitzvah or sitting in board meeting for youth group--I believe I was the "third vice president"--in the classrooms behind the sanctuary, I could hear Cantor Summers doing scales to warm up for services. A secret gift. 

In the video, he says "Never berate a child."

I will try harder. 

Comments

[Heather Z.]

Good post.

I struggle with this often, too. Last night I snapped at Hayley because she was creating a poster board presentation in what I thought was the wrong way. (It was!) And I got frustrated with Garrett about how he was doing his KINDERGARTEN homework, for goodness sakes. Not Jack Nicholson, but not my kindest self. (Perhaps homework time at our house just sucks.)

What a good example Cantor Summers sets.

I do try to apologize when I am unkind. But it's OK to apologize to yourself, too, I think.

[Jill]

Heather Z.! One of the gentlest people I know.