(no subject)

[xiphias]

Lis noticed that, in two years, Talk Like a Pirate day will fall on Rosh Hashana.

When we informed my parents of this, my mother, who typically runs High Holiday Services at her community, got very thoughtful and said, "Remind me of that a month before, because I'm not going to remember, and it ought not pass without recognition."

My father thought a moment, and said, "Arrr! Who by cannon, and who by cutlass. Who by scurvy, and who by walkin' tha plank. . . "

Comments

[fionaphoenix.livejournal.com]

I'm ashamed to say I don't know much about the holiday, but I have to agree with everyone else. Your parents totally rock. :)

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Well, Dad's comment, if you don't mind me Explaining The Joke, is based on a poem in the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur liturgy, in which we discuss how G-d determines our fate for the year

The prayer is called "Unetanah Tokef", and the translation would be something like this:

On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed,
And on Yom Kippur it is sealed.
How many shall pass away and how many shall be born,
Who shall live and who shall die,
Who shall reach the end of his days and who shall not,
Who shall perish by water and who by fire,
Who by sword and who by wild beast,
Who by famine and who by thirst,
Who by earthquake and who by plague,
Who by strangulation and who by stoning,
Who shall have rest and who shall wander,
Who shall be at peace and who shall be pursued,
Who shall be at rest and who shall be tormented,
Who shall be exalted and who shall be brought low,
Who shall become rich and who shall be impoverished.
But repentance, prayer and righteousness avert the severe decree.

[baratron.livejournal.com]

Of course, the "Who shall perish by water and who by fire" part could stay as it is :)

Very amused, and thank you for the explanation. I laughed at the initial post even without understanding the context, but I'm pleased to see why.