Happy 75th Birthday, Bob Dylan!

I’m supposed to dine with you sometime, Bob.  That’s what our rabbi told me anyway – me and Rev. Dr. Lucy Forster-Smith, former head chaplain at Macalester College, now chaplain at Harvard University.

Just before Rabbi Bernie Raskas (God rest his soul) was going to Jerusalem for the summer in 1999, Lucy and I had lunch with him.  (I was a couple months away from moving to D.C. to begin studies for a Masters in Liturgical Studies at The Catholic University of America). You have to know that Bernie, Lucy, and I were the “God Squad” at Mac between January 1994 and May 1999.  Anyway, somehow Bernie began speaking about you, your family, and aunt & uncle who had been members of Temple Israel, the conservative synagogue he served in St. Paul, MN.

Rabbi Bernard Raskas (died, 2010) Rev. Lucy Forster-Smith, Roc O’Connor, SJ – the God Squad

Anyway, at one point he said, “Ya know, next time Bobby’s in town, we’ll have lunch!”  I looked at Lucy.  We were amazed.  “Bernie, I’m going to hold your feet to the fire on this one.”  “Yeah, yeah, we’ll all have lunch next time he’s in town.”  Well, as life would have it, it hasn’t happened (yet?).  In 2000, I moved to Creighton University in Omaha to teach.  And Bernie’s health began to deteriorate.  I visited him several times and even brought him a copy of our SLJ recording, “Morning Light” (2005).  His beloved Laeh died.  Soon Bernie died.

Bernie… I’m not forgetting this!!!  Bob, be advised: Lucy and I are up for lunch anytime, anywhere and will share great stories about our beloved rabbi.

Happy 75th Birthday, Bob.  Thanks for all you’ve given me and the world.  –roc,sj