Regina Spektor Instagram – Hi friends! Sharing some photos and thoughts from the wonderful pre-Rosh Hashanah event at the @vp residence last week! It was so special to sing for everyone (🎥 added a small clip into stories :-) While traveling on the Acela from NYC- I was randomly seated across from a very kind orthodox Jewish man, who was studying the tanach (& who switched seats with me because I felt so 🤢 going backwards – I think the fact that I arrived to DC feeling good- was all him!) The three hours journey made me think about so many things in my life… the fact that I came from a land where Antisemitism was rampant, and where being Jewish was considered shameful by society. The fact that I was the first in many generations to get to practice Judaism openly, who got to learn Hebrew and visit Israel, learn ancient traditions and stories, learn that you could be safe and open about being a proud Jew… I got to bring my family to the White House all those years ago to celebrate Jewish Heritage with the Obamas, and now- was seated across from a man wearing a kippa on a speeding train while in my mind praciticing a Hebrew prayer… A prayer I would be singing in a few hours to gathered Jewish religious and political leaders at the Vice President’s house- which for the first time in history had mezuzahs on doors and where the Shofar will be heard, and where apples will be dipped in honey for Rosh Hashanah… The speeches were beautiful, inspiring and from the heart. The topics were quite serious. A commitment to fight Antisemitism which- even since my time growing up in NYC- I have watched rise meteorically. Things I didn’t think were possible- happen everyday because prejudice and hatered have a new foothold in American daily life. Jewish hate crimes are up in a terrifying way. It doesn’t have to continue in this trajectory. I really do think that we have great potential and enough resources to educate. There are more people who want to connect and bridge divides than those who want to fuel hate. As we approach Yom Kippur- the day of atonement, we can hope and work and try! Shanah Tova! 🍯🍏💛 👗: @celiabdesigner