Fiddler on the Roof
So last night I had the opportunity to see an amazing production of Fiddler on the Roof. I'm a bit ashamed to admit that I missed reading/watching/listening to this play growing up and had no idea what is was about (infact, for some reason Marilyn Monroe kept popping up in my head...or was the Cat on a Hot Tin Roof)?

Either way - I found myself marveling at the main charachter and how he found himself so at ease in conversation with God - very familiar and almost irreverent...I was just curious if anyone else had frank/friendly/even snotty discussions with God like this or if you just any thoughts in general.

For those of you who haven't seen the play or know of it here's a couple of excerpts where the main charachter (a jewish man with 5 daughters in the early 1900's in Russia) speaks to God.

"I know, I know. We are Your chosen people. But, once in a while, can't You choose someone else?"

"Sometimes I think, when it gets too quiet up there, You say to Yourself, "What kind of mischief can I play on My friend Tevye?"

[to God] "It may sound like I'm complaining, but I'm not. After all, with Your help, I'm starving to death."

You made many many poor people, I realize of course it's no shame to be poor, but it's no great honor either. Now what would be so terrible if I had a small fortune?



Stephanie, Friday, 8-24-07 5:25 PM
re: Fiddler on the Roof
Oh, I have lots of thoughts in general. ;)
But you're probably more interesting in the ones specific to the irreverent Tevye. I saw Fiddler a long time ago on TV, and loved it, but it was too long ago to recall more than a couple famous songs. These quotes, though, in addition to being quite stereotypically Jewish, definitely fit the mood I remember.
Is it really OK to be so familiar with God? I don't know. Couple of thoughts come to mind, though. First, God already knows my secret thoughts: it's not like I can hide the fact that I am really quite seriously annoyed with Him by *not* saying so.
God says he wants us to talk to him, and He didn't say that we had to use King James English and ask only for my daily bread.
Second, I think Tevye here is hearkening back to a fine, old Jewish tradition of conversing terribly "frankly" with God. For instance, see the link below...


Link: Genesis 18
ROUS  Annette Collins, Monday, 8-27-07 11:45 PM
re: Fiddler on the Roof
That's muay helpful Annette!
Stephanie, Friday, 8-31-07 2:08 PM
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