Philadelphia and a Jewish Cemetery

Recent news of vandalism in Jewish cemeteries, bomb threats at Jewish schools and spray painting signs called my attention to family. These events have hit too close to home. Signs at my daughter's school were spray painted and tombstones were overturned in the cemetery around the corner from where my family is buried.

David & Amelia Wolf Levine

I have never understood people who feel they must tear up things that are not theirs (and do not matter to them). I am repulsed by those who prey on little children (schools) or people weaker than themselves, and the insanity that drives perpetrators to make these attacks anonymously . I am completely confused when individuals target burial grounds in order to wound people they do not even know. If such people would put their minds into action they would realize that in all probability their lives at some point benefited by the philanthropy or gifts of the very Jewish people they have targeted.

My Grandparents

Although I never met David Levine, I would like to learn more about him. I am named after him. In Jewish life it is bad luck to be named after a living relative; David Levine died about a year before I was born. I did know his daughters, especially Adele, my grandmother. I spent many happy weekends at her home in Miami Beach.

David & Amelia Levine. Her sister Rachel Spitz is on next row

A few years ago I was in Philadelphia, thought about my ancestors who lived there and visited their graves. These family members were important to my past, and although I did not know the people buried in Philadelphia, they contributed to my life.

David Levine and Philip Wolf

I am named after my great grandfather, David Levine. David immigrated to the United States at the age of fifteen in 1875. His brother was supposed to meet him at the boat, but failed to appear. My great grandfather entered this country without family connections, and probably without knowing the English language. But he survived.

David & Amelia Levine in Atlantic City

I do not know what his early years were like, either in Kalvarija or in Philadelphia. His parents might have been bakers, because he tested bread to make sure it was fresh. In the United States he worked in the garment industry. In 1880 he is listed as a clothier living in Girardville, Pennsylvania. In 1886 he married Amelia Wolf, the daughter of a clothier. And by 1892 he was operating a clothing store in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania.

Magazine listing names of my relatives

David Levine, his brother-in-law Abe Zable, his father-in-law Adolf Wolf, and many members of the Wolf family owned clothing stores. Early circulars, magazines and trade journals list his name and show he was a leader in the industry. David was also a leader in his community, holding civic offices and giving money to worthwhile causes. He was also active in Jewish life, attending Synagogue on a regular basis in the communities where he lived.

Tobias Simon clothing store in McKeesport, PA

A few years ago, on my visit to Philadelphia, I visited Adath Jeshurun Cemetery to find his grave. In the process I met the caretaker for the cemetery. The man shared that the graveyard is full. Funding is down, so the caretaker (at that time) gave much of his time as a gift of love (rather than being paid). This makes my heart break when I think it could have been his cemetery vandalized.

Amelia Levine's Parents - Adolph & Pauline Wolf

On my visit I found not only David and Amelia Levine, but also a host of other family members from the Wolf and Spitz lines of the family.  It was a tour of my family’s heritage and a lesson that immigrants can thrive in the United States, and contribute to our country. In fact immigrants who are working hard to survive are the very people who have made our country great.

Stories of Palm leaves & Victory

Today is a day of victory stories and celebrations with Palm leaves.  We all know that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey amidst great celebration with people laying down palm branches and clothing to build up the road.  Why do we have this tradition?  There are stories, some of which have been forgotten.  

Having grown up in south Florida, palm branches are fun to wave and build outdoor structures (like lean-to's, pirate shacks, tree houses, picnic shelters, and Sukkot tabernacles).  Palm leaves speak of vacations in warm places.  Even in Israel the symbol of Jericho was the Palm Tree.

Palm leaves are symbolic and have been used throughout history as emblems of joy and victory (Ps 92:12).  They were engraved throughout the Temple, beginning on the basins at the entrance of the Temple.  They are used during the Feast of Tabernacles to show God’s bounties. (Leviticus 23:40)

The stories start with the triumphant entry when King David brought the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem.  “David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing.... And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn. (2 Sam 6:12-15)

Likewise, there was great celebration when Jehu was anointed King by the prophet Elisha. “When Jehu came out to the servants of his master, they said to him,“Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?” ... He spoke to me, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel.’” Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.” (2 Kings 9:11-13)

The Jews look forward to the time the Messiah will come into Jerusalem in the midst of great celebration.  “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zech 9:9) “Go through, go through the gates, Clear the way for the people; Build up, build up the highway, Remove the stones, lift up a standard over the peoples. 11 Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth, Say to the daughter of Zion, "Lo, your salvation comes; Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him." (Isa 62:10-11)

Stories of the Maccabees include palm leaves during two victorious marches into Jerusalem.  The first was when Judas Maccabee celebrated the recapture of Jerusalem with dancing, singing and palm branches. “The Jews celebrated joyfully for eight days as on the Feast of Booths, remembering how, a little while before, they had spent the feast of Booths living like wild animals in the mountains and in caves. Carrying rods entwined with leaves, beautiful branches and palms, they sang hymns of grateful praise to him who had successfully brought about the purification of his own place. By public decree and vote they prescribed that the whole Jewish nation should celebrate these days every year.” (2 Macc 10:6-8)

Twenty years later Jerusalem was under attack again, from Egypt, because of poor defenses.  They appealed to their High Priest and Prince, Simon Maccabee for help.  He rebuilt the defenses and the raids stopped.  “There was a great celebration in the city because this terrible threat to the security of Israel had come to an end. Simon and his men entered the fort singing hymns of praise and thanksgiving, while carrying palm branches and playing harps, cymbals, and lyres. Simon issued a decree that the day should be joyfully celebrated every year.” (1 Macc. 13:51-2)

So it is against the background of many stories about victorious entries and palm leaves that Jesus enters Jerusalem.  John tells us “The large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’” (12:12-13).

Of course there are other stories also, like stories of donkeys ... but more on that later.

Why Wear Green?

Green, I must wear green today.  There will be lots of people wearing green, and if I do not wear green, I will get pinched.  Look around, do you see people wearing green today?  Are you wearing green today?  

Well, there used to be lots of people wearing green.  What is it all about.  When I poll people, most do not remember, and some do not know.  Why do people wear green today?  Is it because they like green?  Maybe it’s because green is their color (people tell me green is my color all the time).  Perhaps it is because green things are sprouting, so we wear green to celebrate spring.  (In New Orleans people wear green early, along with yellow for daffodils and purple for redbuds … wrong!)

When I poll people about why green is worn today I am surprised, many do not know.  When I was young, everyone knew.  It was part of our school.  It was part of what went on at home.  We all wore green on this day because if you forgot, someone would pinch you.  Everyone knew it was because of St. Patrick’s Day.  And we knew parts of the story.

When I ask people where is their green they are surprised, and wonder why I ask.  When I remind them it is St. Patrick’s day, most realize, and just say, “Oh.”  (no exclamation point!) They know.  They didn’t remember, but they did not forget.  It doesn’t matter.

Why St. Patrick’s Day? Some will say because we are celebrating some guy named St. Patrick, but they really don’t know who he is.   In some places it is because people think it’s about green beer (was this Patrick guy a brewer?  Or maybe it is just because the Irish like beer, and everyone, even those not Irish should join them.)

Some say it is because of Shamrocks.  They really don’t know the why of shamrocks, they just know shamrocks are part of it.  Was it because Patrick was a gardener, and grew shamrocks?  Did he wear shamrocks, or maybe sell shamrock pins? No, he told stories about shamrocks.  But people have forgotten the story.

Who was Patrick?  A lucky leprechaun of Ireland?  Or, was he like the Pied Piper of England … just he ridded the island of snakes (not children).  If someone rid our country of snakes, we would celebrate!!

We can look this all up on line, the point is, we have forgotten the story.

Or maybe the story does not matter.  We live in a busy world, and who has time to remember that today is March 17, and March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day, and we are supposed to wear green.  We are individualists, and do our own thing, in this generation.  We don’t need to wear green!

But this is sad, for the stories teach us.  They have passed down truths for generations.  Do you know who St. Patrick is?  The real St. Patrick … not the one who drinks beer (that is made up).  St. Patrick is a hero.  He told a story which saved Ireland.  He really did chase a snake out of the country (Not many snakes, one snake) … What snake?  The red snake.  Read the story, think, and you will understand.