Likewise, my wife has had a very similar experience each Rosh Hashanah since we moved to Harrisburg. However, her trip down memory lane occurs well before HaYom HaRas Olam. Layala grew up in Brooklyn, where she greatly enjoyed listening to her father lead the davening each Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur. From the get-go, my father-in-law’s melodies are different from those sung by our shul’s chazzan. As such, while following along in her Machzor, my wife softly sings all of her father’s tunes to herself.
For Layala, these familiar melodies evoke the wonderful memories of her loving family, a very happy childhood, and Yom Tovim spent in the company of her dear grandparents.
I would wager we each have familiar tunes for various parts of the Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur davening that can transport us back to meaningful times and places in our lives.
Where did you travel this past Rosh Hashanah?
Rabbi Akiva and Layala Males recently spent their fifth Rosh Hashanah together with Kesher Israel Congregation in Harrisburg, PA.