I re-digress

Have any of you ever seen the Jazz Singer? You know the first "Talkie" with Al Jolson. Somethings are very surprising. I had always heard of this famous movie, but had not seen it. Well, if you haven't seen it, here's how it goes. Jakie Rabinowitz is the son of the Synagogue Cantor. Five generations of Cantors(song singers). At 12, his father catches him singing jazz in a saloon and throws him out of the house, on the Day of Atonement. He is supposed to be the next Cantor not a jazz singer. It shows his father singing and they are carrying this huge, ornate Torah Scroll and other happenings at the Synagogue. Years pass and Jakie gets his big break on Broadway and returns to NY. Moma still loves him, but Papa again throws him out. Papa falls ill and is unable to sing on the Day of Atonement. Moma comes to see Jakie at rehearsal for his Broadway show and begs him to come sing. It is opening night, what is he to do, choose his career or God. It is funny because he is speaking with his mother with his face painted black like we have seen before when he sings mammy. In the end, Jakie sings at the Synagogue, Papa dies after hearing him sing and he still got his Broadway show. One of the ending lines, most of the dialogue is still like a silent movie, goes like this "-a jazz singer-singing to his God."



I know this is straying from our usual, very important, content, but I was just so surprised that one of the most ground breaking movies had a Jewish theme and I never knew it. And probable a few years ago would not have cared.

Thanks for indulging me.
Shalom,
Sandi, DD and BFSer