Image: “The Seven Days of Creation” by Laurie Gross Studios of Santa Barbara, CA. These tapestries hang in the sanctuary at Congregation Ohabai Sholom in Nashville, TN. Read more about them on The Temple website.
I had the pleasure of observing Rosh Hashanah in Nashville with Congregation Ohabai Sholom, also known as The Temple. One aspect of the service moved me beyond all others, and it caught me completely by surprise.
I arrived early and found a seat. The rabbis tell us that before prayer, we should pray that we pray well, so that’s what I was doing – at least, that’s what I was doing until jet lag caught up with me and I began to doze. I rested in a place between awake and asleep, relaxed and floating.
People began to enter, and as always happens with a big holiday service, they greeted one another and chatted: “Shanah tovah!” “How’s your mama doing?” “Oh my goodness, he’s grown so much!” “Can you believe this weather we’re having?” It was just small talk, but as I sat with my eyes closed, I began to cry.
They were southern voices, speaking with southern accents. They were in fact Nashville accents, the men’s slightly different from the women’s, all with a musical quality that sang to me. I cried because they were Jewish southern voices.
I have lived in California for 30 years, but I still have a strong Southern accent. At one point I tried to lose it, and someone tried to congratulate me on dropping “that ignorant sounding accent.” I immediately resolved that I would go to my grave sounding this way! After all, I spent the first 30 years of my life in the South; for better and worse, it is a part of my identity.
Jews seem particularly bothered by the accent. Some respond by complimenting me on my “cute twang” (I HATE that phrase) or tease me with exaggerated imitations of my accent. All of it serves to remind me that I’m Other, not one of the gang – even when it is intended as a joke or a compliment, it is distancing. I realize this is only a minor taste of what Jews of Color and other “others” encounter, but it wears on me. So far I’ve managed to be polite.
Sometimes it is funny. When I lived in Israel, Israelis would be puzzled by my insistence that I was m’Artzot-haBrit [from the United States.] They associated Americans with coastal accents from New York and Los Angeles. I learned to say that I was mi-TehnehSEE and then they’d ask if I knew Johnny Cash. That always made me laugh.
I internalized the idea that there are no Jews with southern accents. Certainly I didn’t know any rabbis with much of one (maybe the teasing got to them, I don’t know.) But on Rosh HaShanah morning, with my heart breaking over my brother, suddenly I was surrounded by a sea of beautiful soft southern speech, my mamaloshen [mother-tongue,] and all of it indubitably Jewish Southern speech. I wept, and was comforted.
Shanah Tovah, y’all.
Update: I am sorry to say that my brother passed away after a long battle with his injuries on September 3, 2018. I will say that the High Holy Days will never be quite the same.
You remind me to take time to be open to haShekinah, thank you
Thank you, Meredith – I’m glad my words have been helpful. Sukkot sameach! Happy Sukkot!
I’m someone with a strong New York accent who has not lost it even after living in a different state for the past 16 years. When I was in the city, I was criticized by some because of my strong accent (yes, even by other New Yorkers!) Now I wear it as a badge of pride, especially that I am now returning to synagogue.
I am a Lower East Side Jew and proud of it.
Good for you, Debra! I think regional accents are wonderful – and the multiplicity of NY accents is a marvel!
L’Shanah Tovah Rabbi Adar! I’m so sorry to hear of your brother’s struggles and will definitely pray for him…
But wanted to let you know, Rabbi Valerie Cohen is much like yourself with a southern accent 🙂 although she’s here in central Massachusetts! I love hearing the accent as well, as my informative years as a child were in Louisiana 🙂
Wishing you a sweet and happy New Year!
Michelle
Michelle, that’s wonderful to hear! One of these days I look forward to meeting Rabbi Cohen!
Sukkot sameach – happy Sukkot!
Having spent a part of my childhood traipsing around the country, my own accent is mostly mid-western but with bits from other places which people attuned to such things find confusing. I find different accents remind me of friends. I remember being in an airport and hearing an announcement that sounded like my friend Ruth and finding it so comforting I called her on the phone!
I remember that phone call!
I was amused recently when I realized that my own accent is almost identical to that of the late Huell Howser. If it is good enough for a broadcaster, it’s good enough for me.
Happy Sukkot!
Southern Accents ARE terrifyingly fabulous as they should be!
Chickylala, do you have a regional accent? (If you say “none” keep in mind that those of us who don’t sound like most of the people on TV think you DO have an accent!)
Happy Sukkot!
I honestly didn’t know I had a reply from you UNTIL today, when I happened to notice the icon in the upper right hand corner that I clicked! And yes, I do have an accent which is more pronounced at venues or when I’m around those “cranky Yankee NJ” relations! 😄
We are everywhere.
Oh, I do hope so!