This was Rabbi Irwin Zeplowitz’s talk at the 1999 Hiroshima Day commemoration at City Hall in Hamilton, Ontario. After his deeply moving speech, I wrote the following:

“And the third event – the future so close – the candles to celebrate the coming of the Millennium turned to blood-curdling horror for all — the instant-acting virus carried by a gas in each and every home on Earth. Instant Armageddon by ancient Satan and modern human technology.

(This is a reference to the book “Son of Rosemary”). God was strangely inactive to his loss in “Mega-chess”. He relied only on fragile Rosemary — a very thin reed of hope to lean on. And her future was worst of all: for ever raped in the eternal embrace of Satan himself.”

Then came the next item in the City Hall ceremony, as if in answer to my despair. It was a reading from Psalm 37, done as responsive reading:

“Do not fret because of the wicked, or envy those who do evil. For they soon wither like grass and fade away like the green leaf. Trust in God and do good, dwell in the land and there find safe pasture. Find your delight in God, who will grant the desires of your heart.” And so on.

I walked home, deeply moved by God’s answer. He still believes in me, though I so often doubt. I still get answers!

Humming in my mind was the song “Oh Rosemarie, I Love You” followed by (from the same operetta) “When I’m Calling You…I will Answer Too…”

RESPONSIVE PSALM 37

Do not fret because of the wicked, or envy those who do evil.
For they soon wither like grass and fade away like the green leaf.
Trust in God and do good,
dwell in the land and there find safe pasture.
Find your delight in God,
who will grant the desires of your heart.

God will make your vindication shine like the light,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before God apd wait patiently,
do not fret because some prosper in evil schemes.

Let go of anger and abandon wrath.
Do not fret – it can only do harm.
Those who do evil shall be cut off,
but those who look to God shall inherit the earth.
In a little while the wicked will be no more,
you will look where they were and their place will be empty.

But the meek shall inherit the earth,
they shall enjoy fullness of peace.
Salvation for the righteous comes from God, their refuge in time of trouble.
God helps and delivers,
and rescues from the wicked those who seek shelter.