Hashert

A while back, longer than I'd like to admit, I was in one of my favorite places, a bookstore. A good one, I should be more specific. Call me old-fashioned, but much as I love all the assistance and knowing that the internets have brought me, there is little that could replace the thrill of being in a bookstore. Such a sexy place, full of possibility. But I digress. I was buying something, perhaps a magazine, and saw copies of Michael Chabon's (at that time) new book The Yiddish Policeman's Union. I thought to myself, I'll get that for my dad, for his birthday, and that way I can read it first! I was reading it the next day, on Bart, and this woman stopped me, dying to know how I got a copy of the book before it was published. I explained the store and how it was already signed, perhaps advance copies? I read the book and loved it, and decided that it would be great to also get to for my grandfather's birthday as well. I meant to send him that copy, but was lazy about getting to the post office the next day, and instead wound up on 4th st in Berkeley. I went by Cody's and thought that I would stop in there and get him another copy. I saw that they were setting up chairs and I asked what for, and was told that Michael Chabon would be doing a reading in about half an hour! I stayed for the reading talk, and as usual, loved what he had to say. It is not necessarily true that the writers you love make for good speakers, but he said he was in his favorite bookstore, and it seemed to be true, he was relaxed and funny. One concept that he discussed when asked was about the dedication of the book to his wife, he says for Ayalet, Hashert. He explained that hashert is a Yiddish word for meant to be, and that he had been thinking about that concept a lot when writing this book, it can mean something romantic, but it can also mean something more along the lines of responsibility, meaning what could go along with being chosen, as the Jews thinking of themselves as chosen people, which could be onerous. At that point, Ayelet, who was in the audience, raised her hand and asked, "well, which is it?", "what?", "which meaning did you mean in the dedication?" And he replied very quickly, "meant to be, the romantic one of course!" Smart man. After waiting in line to have my book signed, I told him about how I had just been coming in to buy his book for my Yiddish scholar grandfather, and foind him here, and he gave me a very charismatic smile and said. "Ah, it was hashert!"