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I didnt know I was Jewishuntil I read my own poems.

Isidore Century

isa discovery of Yiddishkeitthrough small awakenings:forgiveness, redemption, kindness, and justice. Te poemsthemselves are divided into two sections: Poems of the Weekly

Torah Portion provides 54 double-takes on the orah; Talesof Wonder and Wanderingdescribes the poets journeys of thebody and the soul.

Mr. Century writes for alienated Jews like himself, whowish to remain Jews but have trouble finding a bridgebetween tradition and a search for spirituality and who

wander between the two.An attorney living in New York City, Isidore Centurys poems

have appeared in Chelsea Review,Midstream, Borestone MountainPoetry Awards 1976, Best Jewish Writing 2003, Jewish Currents and

Jews.Te poems in this volume were written in many coffee shops in

New York City over four decades. Mr. Century is grateful for thekindness and hospitality he has received over the years.

from theCoffee HouseofJewish Dreamers

poems of the

weekly

Torah Portions

the collected poetry of

IsidoreCentury

Order today:Please send me ___ copies of the From the Coffee House of

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Chayye Sarah

It was such a secret,

you will not find not one midrashfrom it.

She couldnt cook!

An Eshet Hayilone hundred times;

she ran the household; she raised Isaac;

she did business with the caravans and Bedouin

she was the sole breadwinner for the family;

she was some She!

But she couldnt fry an egg to save her life.

I did the cooking and I never told not one person

For that mitzvah maybe,

an angel gave to me a recipe to make

noodle kugel

with dates and raisins and pistachio nuts.

From the river Egypt to the Great River

Euphrates

they heard from my kugeland everyone came toAbrahams tent to buy.

It was like a restaurant, but no charge;

it is a gift from God, Abraham told them.

Those that asked who is God remained to be

Israelites.

Abraham liked to say

we were a tribe of questioners,

but if not for my kugel,

we would not become a nation.

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Shabbes

I did not know Shabbes.

As a child I thought it was the name

of the bearded, black-suited man,

who stood in front of the synagogue

on Saturdays

cheerfully beckoning Jews:

Yidden. Come in. Rest your souls.

As my father and I passed the synagogue by,

he tightened his grip on my hand and chuckled;

I know Shabbesfrom Poland.

I like him but I cant live with him.

He doesnt let you rest a minute

from his holiness.

I wondered what mysterious delights

I might have found there,

yet, I lowered my eyes, and turned away,

ashamed that Shabbeslooked so un-American.

Passover at the

Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

They do not serve matzah at the Terrace Cafe;

I have brought shmurahmatzah,

a gift from the Lubavitchers

for past and future donations.

By some trick of tradition,

I am grateful I can afford to contribute,yet feel guilty for not giving more.

I buy a side dish of tuna salad

to make a matzahsandwich.

It tastes of holiness and sin,

not unlike sweet and sour kosher Chinese shrimp.

I wonder if Ill get credit in the World to Come

for a half-mitzvah.

Can you be half-kosher for Passover?

Can you be half-Jewish?

Beyond the tulip beds a Black-crowned Night Heron

perches at the edge of the lily pond.

His crown is like ayarmulke,

his head, bent down close to the water,

shuckles, as though he is praying

to God for help to catch a goldfish swimming by.

I throw a few pieces of matzah towards him,

Manna from heaven!

He eats the matzah.

I eat my sandwich.Were having a seder.

the collected poetry of

IsidoreCentury

Order today:Please send me ___ copies of the From the Coffee House of

Jewish Dreamers at only $14.95 each + $2.50 s/h per order.

N.J. residents: Add 7% sales tax. Outside the US: Add $10 s/hfor first book, $5 each subsequent book

My check or money order for $_______ is enclosed.

Name ____________________________________________

Address __________________________________________

City/State/Zip______________________________________

Phone _______________________ Email _______________

from the

Coffee House ofJewish Dreamers

BenYehuda Press430 Kensington Rd. eaneck, NJ 07666

fax: 201-917-1278 orders@BenYehudaPress.com

http://www.BenYehudaPress.com

poems of

Wonderand Wandering