The "Meeting Interesting People!" Story

It was an ordinary day. Sitting with my Kindle in my hand, reading James Patterson's seasonal novel, "The Christmas Wedding." This novel is much like his "Suzanne's Dairy for Nicholas" and "Sam's Letters to Jennifer" in that it is so much not James Patterson and his thrilling killer type novels. Story about a woman with four grown children whose husband had died and she plans to re-marry at Christmas. But ...... hasn't told her children who will be the groom. Has a few choices and one is a Jewish Rabbi. Some real thought provoking chapters in it. I must tell you that I have learned quite a bit about the Jewish faith while reading the book. As one of her other suitors proclaims in the book - Nowhere will you meet more interesting people than in books. Amen, or Amein in Jewish! Did you know that the Unetanah Tokef, a religious Jewish poem that is meant to strike fear in Jews, is part of the Jewish liturgy, primarily as part of Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur is the day that Moses came down from Sinai with the second set of tablets of the Ten Commandments to replace the original set that he broke upon witnessing the children of Israel worshipping the Golden Calf. The poem follows:

On New Year's Day (Rosh Hashanah) the Decree is inscribed,

And on the day of Atonement (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 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.

If you're Jewish, or even if you're not, you may want to do some repenting, praying and being righteous to avoid the previously stated lines from the religious poem. Sure struck fear in me! Extremely thought provoking. After reading a few parts of "The Christmas Wedding" I had to "Google" several items to learn more about items in the book. Guess that is what a good book should do; provoke thoughts. I won't tell you any more about the book except for the fact that you should read it yourself. Great reading for the Holidays, no matter what your religious beliefs may be; for you know, Nowhere will you meet more interesting people than in books. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.