Dayanu!

Subject: A Happy! for tonight.
From: Abby Sale
Date: 27 Mar 02 - 09:46 AM

Happy Pessah!

The Queen in a small European principality was
bestowing knighthood upon men who had in some way
helped her or her country. The men all knelt before her,
and participated in a ceremony so old that its words
had degenerated into meaningless syllables. The Queen
would touch her sword to the shoulder of a man, say " I
knight thee Sir William Thompson; Holla Rolla Wolla
Bolla!" Sir William would ansswer "Holla Rolla Wolla
Bolla," and the Queen moved on to the next kneeling
man. When she came to one man, new to the country
and unaccustomed to its traditions, she said "I knight
thee Sir Hymie Ginsberg, Holla Rolla Wolla Bolla." The
new knight in his stage fright could not remember the
nonsense words, and blurted out the first ritual words
that came to his mind: "Ma nishtana halailah hazeh
michol hallelos?" The Queen turned to a courtier, and
pointing to this new nobleman, said "Why is this knight
different from all other knights?"

thanx Sam Hinton, La Jolla, CA, 4/12/98

Subject: RE: Dayanu!
From: Watson
Date: 27 Mar 02 - 10:14 AM

Thanks Abby, that's funny...
I don't know why, but I'm sure it is!

Subject: RE: Dayanu!
From: Jack The Lad
Date: 27 Mar 02 - 10:26 AM

There was a tall Jewish knight present at the Queen's coronation. He was "Long" Maishie Rayne. Chag Sameach-Happy Pesach. Jack The Lad

Subject: RE: Dayanu!
From: GUEST,Argenine
Date: 27 Mar 02 - 12:59 PM

I assume, Watson, (from context and from my memory of the Seder ritual) that "Ma nishtana halailah hazeh michol hallelos?" is Hebrew for "Why is this knight different from all other knights? So I thought it was pretty funny.

Is my interpretation right, Abby?

Arge

Subject: RE: Dayanu!
From: Abby Sale
Date: 27 Mar 02 - 09:06 PM

"Night," but yes.

Subject: RE: Dayanu!
From: michaelr
Date: 27 Mar 02 - 10:32 PM

What language are you speaking here? I'm baffled.

Michael

Subject: RE: Dayanu!
From: Troll
Date: 27 Mar 02 - 10:46 PM

Hebrew. Gut Yom Tov.

troll

Subject: RE: Dayanu!
From: mack/misophist
Date: 27 Mar 02 - 10:48 PM

Hebrew

Subject: RE: Dayanu!
From: Blackcatter
Date: 27 Mar 02 - 10:52 PM

Happy Pesach Abby. (from downtown Orlando). I'll share the story Thursday night at my congregation's Seder (First Unitarian on Robinson). Seder starts at 6pm - all are welcome.

pax yall

Subject: RE: Dayanu!
From: GUEST,Argenine
Date: 27 Mar 02 - 11:41 PM

Thanks for the correction, Abby.
I cut and pasted, rather than type the line over. I realized my "homophonic" mistake a few minutes after I posted, but I didn't have time to go back and fix it then.

Shalom,

Arge

Subject: RE: Dayanu!
From: Watson
Date: 28 Mar 02 - 08:57 AM

Thanks Abby, Argenine.
I knew it was funny, but with a Church of England upbringing, it wasn't a phrase I'd encountered very often.