I am obsessed recently with The Sabbath Prayer from Fiddler On The Roof. I saw the current Broadway production and am finding that particular song so very soothing. I sing it to myself frequently throughout the day. This isn't so unusual, I like to sing and songs get in my head and I enjoy working through them, but this song... I don't understand what makes it so magic for me. I mean, I'm basically an atheist. I believe in a "power greater than myself," but I would never call it god or God or G_d. I might call it the collective unconscious.

Of course, the music to Fiddler is ALL fantastic, so there is no question about that.

The lyrics seem so religious, so sexist, so provincial and yet I think this song transcends itself, its kind of a "we're all in this together and we will get through it." I'm all for that.

"Defend and protect us, let us be deserving of praise, favor them oh lord, with happiness and peace, " Its both self loving and looking out for others, two things the world needs now.

So I'll keep singing.

"I'm not bothered about what people say behind my back. I don't need to know about it. I believe in living my life and doing my work. God will give you success. And even if He doesn't, there's a lesson to be learnt." - Sheldon Harnick