By Emily Rosen

ERosen424@aol.com

www.emilyrosen424.com

Remember that nursery rhyme with the really dumb lyrics?

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockle shells,

And pretty maids all in a row

Well I propose a 21st Century change to :

People, People, quite acquisitive

How do your entitlements grow?

Give you a finger – you want a hand

You expect to reap more than you sow

—Mea culpa

It was Saturday morning and I handed the bank teller my deposit slip attached to my few measly checks.

As I did so, I noticed a flyer on the cage announcing a change in banking hours, alerting customers to the fact that the bank would no longer have Saturday hours.

Understand, dear readers, that I have clear memories of the days when banks closed at 3 p.m. – never to open at 3:01—and surely never on any part of a weekend. Nor did they open on a day when any human might dain to proclaim it a holiday.

But in true 21st Century “soft”-entitlement mode, “Hmmmph” went through my mind. “That’s not good.” I said to me, “I might just change banks. That’s easy enough to do.” And then, as she handed me my receipt, I tried to remember the last time I banked on a Saturday. “Not the point,” I rejoindered to my loquacious self, “It’s the principle. Other banks are open on Saturdays and I want it to be MY choice to come here or not — on a Saturday.” Such was my mindset, before I had a serious conversation with me, as in: “Really? You lived a pretty contented life when you had no choice regarding banking days. Available to you now, it has become a ‘soft’ entitlelement … ‘soft,’ as opposed to lifestyle enhancements such as Medicare and Disability entitlements … those for another column. I lingered with that thought until…

I received a call of desperation from a friend — “Emily! I need your help to print out my boarding pass for tomorrow’s flight.” Okay, okay — happy to help a friend, but the desperation in her voice made it sound dire. What if … think of it — what if, indeed, she were to arrive at the airport without her boarding pass – requiring another 5 minutes to acquire it at the terminal kiosk? How “dire” can that be? Another “soft entitlement!”

And then there’s the current most significant entitlement: the ability to learn the name of the guy who played opposite Joan Crawford in that picture — When was it? In the 1940s? What was its name? Nevermind, I’ll call Siri. I’m entitled to get that information – RIGHT NOW. But Siri doesn’t understand the question – ever! Well – hardly ever. Bummer.

All this while the world is galloping towards Armageddon.

Oklahoma

Saturday, April 4, 7:30 p.m.

The Wick Theatre 7901 N. Federal Hwy. Boca Raton, FL 33487

Come see this classic musical, which runs April 2 through 26. This was Rodgers and Hammerstein’s first collaboration and ran on Broadway for an unprecedented 2,212 performances, ushering in the Golden Age of American musical theatre. Tickets are $63-$80. For more information, call 561-995- 2333 or visit www.thewick.org.

FL State Jr. Olympics Boxing Tournament

Saturday, April 4, noon

Deerfield Beach High School 901 SW 15 St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Benefi ts BSO/ Deerfield PAL. For information See pg. 5 or 11, call 954-778-0174 or 954-854-8084.

AAUW meets

Monday, April 6, 12:30 p.m.

Pompano Beach Women’s Club 314 NE 2 St. Pompano Beach, FL 33062

Held by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Pompano Beach Branch. After a brief membership meeting, there will be a presentation and discussion by Nomi Greenberg, docent at the NSU Museum of Art Ft. Lauderdale. Topic: Through the Lens: A presentation on photography, its beginning as an art form, its value as a news tool and its many uses today. New members welcome. No charge. RSVP: 954-570-5423 or email: pompanoscholar@yahoo. com.

CEO Roundtable

Tuesday, April 7, 7:45 a.m.

Galuppi’s on the Green 1103 N. Federal Hwy. Pompano Beach, FL 33062

Annual event held by the Greater Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce. Will feature Pompano Beach City Manager Dennis Beach who will update attendees on happenings in and around the city, as well as what’s in store for the future for the City of Pompano Beach. Great opportunity to network. $25/members and $30/non-members. RSVP by calling 954-941-2940 or visiting www.pompanobeachchamber.com.

I was talking to a group of people about memories of Passovers past.

Now I should probably tell you that the memory sharing group has been dealing with various illnesses that have made it difficult for them to remember things. Yet, as we talked about The Festival of Passover, vivid memories came into their heads.

Let me share some with you:

1. “I remember how we had to clean the whole house from any bread and, since we were cleaning anyway, did the whole house.”

2. “I remember how my mother would hide some pieces of bread and we would go around the house looking for every last piece. We would turn off the lights and my brother would hold a candle so we could see. I got to hold a feather and every time we found a piece of bread, I would use that feather to brush the bread into a little bag my baby sister held.”

3. “I remember going outside with my father early in the morning and we would take whatever and we would take a match and light the bread and watch as every last crumb burned away.”

4. “My mother used to have this jar and the lid had a hole in the middle of the lid and there was this chopper thing that went inside. We would peel apples together and put them in the jar with some walnuts and a batch of wine and then we would take turns punching down on that chopper.”

5. “I was the youngest in the family so I got to ask the Four Questions and, when I did, everyone shut-up and listened. I wish people would listen to me now the way they did then.”

6. “There’s this part in the Seder where we talk about four types of children. I always had to read the one about the wicked son out loud. I wonder if my dad was trying to tell me something.”

7. “The horseradish. When you bit into it, it was so hot that your eyes started to tear. But it sure got your sinuses to open up.”

8. “We used to take our little finger and, as we sang about the 10 plagues, we would dip into the wine and take out just a little drop. After the 10 Plagues were done, we got to lick the wine off our fingers.”

9. Hunting for the Afi komen was my favorite part.”

10. “One year, we opened the door for Elijah and a big dog walked right into the house to join us at our Seder Table. My Father even fed him some scraps and the dog licked whatever fell on the floor. We kept him and called him Elijah.”

11. “My Zaide used to make the Seder go so long that I wondered if it would ever end. But you know what, the next year, I couldn’t wait to do it all over again.”

12. “When the Seder was over, my father would tell momma to go to bed and we would all help him clean up so momma wouldn’t have to worry about it.”

These are just a few memories from some wonderful people who, even though they might not remember what they had for lunch today or, if they even ate lunch at all, can still find great joy and comfort in recalling the memories of Passovers past.

And, as we do our Model Seders in the health centers that care for each of them, may more wonderful and loving memories fl ow into their heads, into their hearts and into their souls.

And, at our own Seders at home, may we create unforgettable memories for our children and our children’s children, and let us say, “Amen.”

Have a kasher and a freilecher Pesach,

Shalom my friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

P.S. Join us at Temple Beth Israel for a special Yom HoShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, Program on Thursday, April 16 at 6 p.m. Selections will be chanted by Guest Cantor Gary Sherman of Temple B’nai Shalom and memories will be shared by Survivors of the Shoah.

Rabbi Ezring is the Spiritual Leader of Temple Beth Israel of Deerfield Beach (201 S. Military Tr., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442). Regular Shabbat services are open to everyone on Saturday mornings from 9 to 11:30 a.m.