Page 25 - Jewish News_June-July-2021

JEWISH INTEREST June/July 2021 25A

Aging Jewishly – What our traditions teach us about growing old

Clairvoyant? An elderly aunt discloses a dubious gift

to Jerusalem” by Dr. Michelle Green
Willner. By Rabbi Barbara Aiello
The program took two years to pro- he was just a little girl when it that I was completely different from meet “a high-level psychic who pre- asked for her psychic input in solving a
duce and debuted in a live performance happened. It was early morn- others. Over the years I had more and dicts something that comes true, but particularly baffling crime. “I would al-

on November 5, 2017, at the Stephen Sing in her family’s tumbledown more visions, but it wasn’t until I was they tell you to veer from the path of ways help,” Auntie said, “but I wanted
Wise Temple in Los Angeles. house in a steel town in western Penn- much older that I acknowledged these Oneness and Unity, you should ignore no notice, no publicity and definitely
The group has now written over sylvania. The little girl, still tucked in as something positive and decided to them.” This admonition is found in the no pay.”
40 pieces and is currently developing a her bed with her two sisters asleep by use them for good.” Torah itself where we read, “If there “Did you ever help solve any fa-
major new work in partnership with the her side, called to her mother. “Mama, Auntie went on to explain that will arise among you a prophet or a mous cases?” I asked. I was dying
recently endowed UCLA Mickey Katz come quick. The she was first compelled to divulge her dreamer of a dream, and he gives you to know some specifics, but Auntie
Chair in Jewish Music. More informa- washing machine psychic gift when she read about two a sign or a marvel … and says, ‘Let us wouldn’t budge. Instead, she changed
tion about the group can be found on is overflowing.” bank robbers who had foiled a police go after other deities’… you must not the subject, pointing out that the He-
YouTube under “David’s Quilt.” Located in roadblock. “The more I read the news- listen to the words of that prophet or brew word, “mazal” has a meaning
Arlene Stolnitz, founder of the Sara- the basement of paper account, the more certain I was dreamer of a dream.” (Deut. 13:2-4) that few understand. “Mazal means
sota Jewish Chorale, is a member of the house, the that I had to contact the authorities. I Which begs the question: Do Aun- constellation, Auntie said. “When we
the Jewish Congregation of Venice. A washing machine clearly had a vision of a house with the tie’s psychic powers complement or wish someone Mazal Tov, we are really
retired educator from Rochester, New was indeed on the two thieves inside. The house number distort Jewish tradition? Our sages saying that the stars are in a good posi-
York, she has sung in choral groups fritz. Warm water was clearly visible. And try as I might speak of those few men and women tion, and the stars are lined up in their
for over 25 years and also sings in and soap bubbles I could not get that image out of my who have “ruach hakodesh,” a higher favor.” For those who had the benefit

The Venice Chorale. Her interest in Rabbi Barbara Aiello were pouring out head.” level of intuition sometimes described of Auntie’s psychic gifts, Mazal Tov
the preservation of Jewish music of of the washer’s bin and slopping all As is often the case with those as “divine wisdom.” This implies a indeed.
all kinds has led to this series of ar- over the floor. Within minutes, the lit- who have psychic tendencies, taking a concomitant level of responsibility. Rabbi Barbara Aiello served Aviva
ticles on Jewish Folk Music in the tle girl’s mother had marshalled all the vision to the police might arouse sus- Ancient Jewish sages cautioned against Senior Living in Sarasota as resident
Diaspora.
CHEVRA KADISHA CULTURE MOHEL CAMP SHABBAT When the crisis had passed, the picion and result in the authorities im- using one’s psychic gifts for selfish rabbi for 10 years. She now lives and
children and several boarders to come
SYNAGOGUE
works in Italy where she is rabbi of
purposes, profit, party tricks or show.
plicating them in the crime. Auntie felt
to the rescue and clean up the mess.
Italy’s first Reconstructionist syna-
the same way. “I thought about making
During our discussion at the diner,
HOLOCAUST
EDUCATION
SENIORS KOSHER LONGBOAT KEY CEMETERIES mother of the young girl who first an anonymous tip but that didn’t seem Auntie admitted that her track record gogue. You may reach her at Rabbi@
sounded the alarm became alarmed
ARTS
was such that police investigators often
right. So I called the police and told
YOUTH GROUP KI N G F O R S O M E T H I N G J E W I S H ? CULTURE them about the vision. I also gave them Rabbi Barbara Aiello’s most popular
RabbiBarbara.com.
MUSIC
BRADENTON
YOUNG ADULTS
herself. “How did you know what was
FAMILY
L
O
O
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING JEWISH?
YOUTH
my name.”
happening in the basement?” she asked
The detective who visited Auntie
as she grilled her daughter. “Were you
JUDAICA FOOD VENICE ELDERLY SERVICES was naturally skeptical, that is, until he columns are now published in her new
CHEVRA KADISHA
FIND IT IN THE DIRECTORY
in the basement this morning? Did you
HADASSAH
SYNAGOGUE
try to use the washing machine? And
HILLEL JFEDSRQ.org/Directory EDUCATION sent a squad car to the house in ques- book, Aging Jewishly, available on
SUMMER CAMP
CULTURE
Amazon. It makes a great gift!
when you broke it, you told no one and
tion and found the homeowner locked
MOHEL
KOSHER
CEMETERIES
SOCIAL TEEN SARASOTA HOLOCAUST CAMP just went back to bed?” in a closet and the two bank robbers
Clearly the mother was angry and
drinking beer at the kitchen table. The
SOCIAL
SENIORS
EDUCATION YOUTH GROUP NORTH PORT FAMILY cops were ecstatic and lauded as he-
the little girl began to cry. “I never
ARTS
SHABBAT
went to the basement,” said the little
roes. Auntie was grateful, not only for
EDUCATION
CAMP YOUNG ADULTS BRADENTON one. “I woke up and in my head I saw the arrest but for the fact that no one Helping you not just bounce back,
the washer overflowing. That’s when I
mentioned her psychic intervention.
called you!” “But did you ever help solve other but bounce forward.
At this point an older sister ap- crimes?” I asked. Auntie wouldn’t say.
peared on the scene. “She does this all Instead, she fell back on Jewish tradi-
the time,” shrieked the sister. “She sees tions saying that she came to believe “Rob did a fantastic job helping us find our forever home. He is very
knowledgeable, responsive, and empathetic. We also found that he was
things that nobody else sees.” The old- that her visions were gifts from God the calm in the storm which was highly appreciated. We would highly
er sister then brandished a broom and and she had the responsibility to use recommend him.” – Amelia Brock and Jerry M.
began bashing the little one. “Mama, her gifts to help others.
Mama, our sister is a witch.” In a 2015 article by Marcus J.
Seventy years later, over a cup of Freed, “So You Are Psychic. Now
coffee in a local diner, my aunt (z”l) re- What,” the author explains a biblical
counted the washing machine incident, prohibition that seems to describe my HABLO ESPAÑOL
noting that this was the first time she Auntie’s position regarding her psy- MOBILE 941.363.6507
had ever shared the story with anyone. chic powers. Freed writes about the OFFICE 941.349.3444
RobertKrasow@michaelsaunders.com
Auntie said, “Until that day I be- “curious Biblical warning” that sug- RobertKrasow.michaelsaunders.com 5100 Ocean Blvd | Sarasota, FL 34242
lieved that everyone could see into the gests exercising caution when encoun-
future. I had no idea, until my mother tering a psychic.
confronted me and my sister beat me, Freed says that should a person
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