"What's Your Persuasion?"
A move to Palm Beach introduced me to my new community
This essay is part of a new collection of work inspired by the anthology On Being Jewish Now: Reflections of Authors and Advocates. Want to contribute? Instructions here. Subscribe here.
My husband and I moved to Palm Beach County, Florida in 1981. A blonde, somewhat newlywed who had experienced some antisemitic comments growing up in Western Pennsylvania, I was naïve, to say the least. The latest fashion was for women to wear their hair braided a la Bo Derek in the movie 10. I chose to wear mine as a crown.
At a dinner with the partners in my husband’s new cardiology practice, I was seated on the opposite end of the table from him. While the main course was being served, an older physician turned to me.
“My dear, what is your persuasion?” he asked quietly.
I had never been asked that question before, and didn’t know what he meant.
“Excuse me?” I asked, as politely as I could.
“What denomination are you? Baptist? Episcopalian?”
“Why, I am Jewish.”
“Jewish? Did you convert? Is your husband Jewish as well?” (His name had been truncated to a more generic one in grade school.)
“Actually, I was born Jewish. My parents are both Jewish and my mother was one of eleven—ten girls and one boy. They were Orthodox.”
“You don’t say! Ten girls!” My interrogator was stymied and attempted to concentrate on his meal.
“But you are blonde,” he added.
“So I am.” At that point, it was naturally blonde. The rest of the evening passed quickly as the doctors and their wives concentrated on their meals and did not order dessert.
Fast forward a few months. Rosh Hashanah was approaching, and I decided to invite newfound friends and colleagues to our small townhouse. I came up with 15 names. By the time we moved to a new home two years later, the invite list had expanded to 50. For 35 years—until we moved again—we hosted a Rosh Hashanah Open House luncheon. It was a time to acknowledge our commitment to our friends, family, and community. Invitations were sent the old-fashioned way, by mail, which always included a poem I would compose with the promise of a sweet New Year.
Fast forward to today. Our children and their friends have scattered to other cities. Some beloved relatives have passed away. It is harder to reunite. My husband and I have relocated to the Berkshires for the summer and fall. “Snowbirds” is the moniker we now go by. We are still committed to our community in Florida but have had to adapt to changes we did not anticipate so many years ago.
I miss our gatherings. I miss the camaraderie we shared, and I miss the Jewish connection we all felt. My persuasion? I remain committed to our religion, our family, and spreading the word that yes, indeed, I am Jewish. I was “persuaded” to impart that legacy to my children and grandchildren long ago.
Nancy Sims has published a short story collection, VERBAL SNACKS. She has collaborated with five other authors to write DETOURS a novel with a touch of magical realism based upon their experience at a writing seminar in upstate New York. Excerpts of her work have been showcased at the Kravis Center and on NPR. An ardent supporter of the literary arts are demonstrated by her involvement as a Book Fair Consultant and Workshop Facilitator. Past President of the Palm Beach County JCC and Chair of the Jewish Federation Community Relations Council during the aftermath of September 11, 2001. She has served on the National Jewish Book Council’s Advisory Committee and as a judge for their annual awards. She is currently working on Volume Two of VERBAL SNACKS as well as a spin-off of her collaborative book.
This essay is part of a new collection of work inspired by the anthology On Being Jewish Now: Reflections of Authors and Advocates. Want to contribute? Instructions here. Subscribe here.
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