Good! And what does it mean, “Ais Rutzon Elohim”?
Moey
“When you are ready, O God.”
Cantor
That’s right. You’re a smart boy, Moey. Now what does it mean “Berov Chasdecho Aneni Be-emes Yishecho”?
Moey
[Hesitates]. I don’t know what that means.
Cantor
Is that nice? A smart boy like you what has the most beautiful voice in the choir? You will never learn to sing until you know what the words mean. Now, listen, Moey. This is what it means. “I offer my prayer to you, when you are ready, O God, with your multitudes of benedictions—answer me, O God, with truth, and help me.” Sing it again, Moey. [Moey begins to sing again. The Cantor rises, impatiently. He is irritated with Moey, yet he has forgotten the child. He speaks more to himself than to Moey.] No, no! Oh, I wish I had my Jakie here. He could show you how to sing it. The words he understood even when he was a little boy smaller than you. And a voice he had like an angel.