I am the heir to 2,600 years of Jewish heritage from the land of Mesopotamia/Babylon/Persia/Iraq. I have cherished it and preserved it authentically, defending it against all the forces of erosion throughout the course of my life, as others around me succumbed to those forces, one by one, to the point of denying its existence other than the remaining scraps. It’s a lonely place to be, but I sing and dance with my hand in the hands of my ancestors. My soul is pure.