Guest Author - Parthena Black
If you enjoy musicals, the heartwarming and culturally rich Fiddler on the Roof is a must. I had the pleasure of enjoying it yet again this weekend on a rainy Saturday afternoon.
I tuned in just in time to watch Papa Tevye inform his daughter Tzeitel that a marriage with the wealthy butcher Lazar Wolfe had been arranged for her. His wife Golde is overjoyed and runs off to thank Yente. Heartbroken, Tzeitel begs her father to reconsider as she has just pledged herself to marry the poor tailor Motel. Motel also beseeches Tevye's blessing. Unable to cope with his daughter's pain and exercise his role as "The Papa," Tevye relents after much inner struggle.
Having gone against tradition and not wanting to appear weak, Tevye now has to justify his decision to Golde. Unable to sleep, he concocts a plan. He wakes Golde in the middle of the night to tell her about the frightening nightmare he has just had, where great grandmother has blessed the union. He describes seeing all of their ancestors who have passed on having a celebration in a graveyard. He thinks that they are celebrating Tzeitel's marriage to Lazar until great-grandmother, dressed in her own wedding gown, reveals that she would choose Motel instead. The party goes from joyous to frightening when Lazar's deceased wife blows in - literally. Frumah-Sarah is not thrilled about a young, pretty woman moving into her home and using her things - especially her pearls! She promises that if Tzeitel marries Lazar, she will receive her deadly "wedding present" within three weeks. The scene is done in dream sequence, and Frumah-Sarah's operatic affirmation, complete with gusting wind, shrieks and screams, shows that she means business!
Golde hangs on every word and tells Tevye that if their ancestor has "taken the trouble to come all the way from the other side to tell us," then the Tzeitel's marrriage to Motel is "meant to be." Despite conflict in the village, the wedding does take place to the tune of the beautiful "Sunrise, Sunset," which continues as a popular song at Jewish and even a few Gentile weddings today.
May all your dreams come true!
Parthena Black is a professional social worker and ordained minister with experience in tarot and runes. For private spiritual counseling and intuitive readings via e-mail, please visit her at oymygoddess.com.
