Reversal, Going Back, The Essence

More in the saga of taking care of my very elderly father-

My father has surprised us on Shabbat by joining in the Friday night singing of "Shalom Aleichem."  Actually, he also surprised himself:

"I must have known this when I was a kid."

He didn't grow up in a very religious home from what I understand.  They were strongly Jewish, but not religiously observant.  Here in Shiloh, in my religious home, he's being exposed to a life style, which isn't all that familiar.

But the man who was proud and happy to be called "The Jew" on the enormous United States Navy ships during World War Two, the only Jew who admitted being of that very minority religion, he's amazingly comfortable here.  His essence is Jewish, no doubt.