Jewish in my dreams

Salomon Klass
Finnish Jew

1907-1985

(Possible Relative in my Dream-land)

It's 2:30 in the morning and I just woke up from a dream that I want to recall so that I don't forget it. I like random dreams a lot and I always wished I had kept a dream journal. Maybe this blog can be one, who knows. So, the thing about this dream was that it wasn't random at all in a: 'I am the Egg-man, I am the Walrus, Koo-koo-cha-choo....kind of way' It was a bit of a: "wouldn't this be cool if it really happened kind of way"

So anyway, in the dream, my Mom called me over and said the she and my father wanted to tell me something. I was obviously intrigued. I came over and she said:

"Your father and I have been doing some more Genealogy lately. We just wanted to let you know, since you would be very interested in this, but we found that you have a Jewish ancestor.

I said."What, are you kidding?" She said, "No, he was from Finland, (Are there any Finnish Jews? who knows....Why yes, there are apparently) (All my ancestors come from Wales and Scotland, so even the Finnish part was a shock.)

"So what you are telling me is that, ethnically speaking, I am Jewish now?

"Uh, I guess," My mother said tentatively as if to gauge if I am thinking that I am Jewish now, and not a Mormon. I perceive this about my mother, so I say:

"So now I guess I am ethnically speaking Anglo-Mormon-American-Jewish. There's some hefty P.C. terminology for you, lots of dashes.

I thank my parents. overjoyed, and I race around looking to tell Cicada the great news. I finally find her in a darkened theater (seeing a movie without me is a no-no, unless it's like New Moon or something ) Anyway, I found her and I said excitedly " HEY guess what?!!!" "What?" she says.
"My parents just told me that I am ethnically Jewish, they found a Jewish person in our line!!! "
So she says, "That makes sense because of your 'Eagle Beak.'

And that was pretty much it....not a classic anecdote.

I suppose I should give this dream some context for those that don't know me well or at all, but I have developed a deep love for the Jewish people that originated during the ages of 16-19 when I saw Schindler's List. Afterward, I remember reflecting on man's inhumanity to man. I became even more fascinated by these noble people's plight, when I went through the Holocaust Memorial museum in D.C. when I was 18. The experience was a profound one, and I kept and have reread many time over the years, a booklet/information card about Josef Hengel, a man that was gassed at a concentration camp along with his whole family

What has happened in subsequent years is that I have developed a deep admiration for a people that suffered so much, yet in a lot of ways, they persevere in a way as a Mormon, I admire, because my people were also persecuted for their beliefs to the point where an extermination order was issued by the state of Missouri. Many, men, women, and children were summarily, cold-bloodedly executed. I don't pretend to compare the level of suffering that each groups experienced, only to say tat it allows me to feel a kinship towards them.

Anyway, this might all stem from the fact that, we as Mormons, are unliked or loathed or whatever, by practically every Christian sect, especially the Protestants who put us up there with the Catholics as heretics. On the other hand, Mormons generally feel that their doctrine leads them to find a solidarity and comfort in Judaism. "except for that whole worshiping Christ as our eternal Savior) Jewish people, as I understand it are mostly indifferent to us. They don't like us when they hear that we are baptizing by proxy their dead ancestors. I understand, totally, but their doctrine disavows baptisms for the dead, so I figure that most would look at it and say: Let them do what they want, because, even if it is deemed disrespectful, then it's really not doing any real harm if you don't believe that the practice has any legitimate purpose.

Anyway, I majorly digressed, I have decided though, that besides the subject of Art, Socio-ethnic studies would be my second study of interest, especially if I could specialize in Jewish and African-American issues. It will never happen, but if the art world completely dried up, I would pursue it. Maybe I could better understand the 2 Jewish people and the 4 black people living here in Utah.

Anyway, I need to go back to bed. I am 'ambien writing again) and I have strict instructions from Cicada not to do that anymore.

Sweet Dreams to all.