Alex Strohmayer, a member of Northeast Jewish Center, was especially eager to meet and greet others after a year of quarantining to guard his health and the health of others. The 100 year old veteran World War II pilot and Yonkers resident, sat outside Thursday night April 29th under the stars, eating and listening to the great music provided by Pey Dalid, enjoying the Northeast Jewish Center’s Lag BaOmer festivities.
Mr. Strohmayer served in the US Army Air Corp’s 381st Bomb Group of the 8th Airforce in Ridgewell, England, piloting a B17G for 9 months during his European Theater service from 1943 to 1945. Mr. Strohmayer, a member of the priestly Levite tribe, has been a dedicated member of the NEJC for more than 40 years, and is proud to serve om Shabbat as the designated opener of the Ark containing the Torah.
Mr. Strohmayer shares his knowledge, experiences and history in school lectures, and with children during Veterans Day. He has been interviewed on TV and by filmmakers, and his story is recorded with the Library of Congress’ Living History.
Lag BaOmer is the minor Jewish holiday held on the 33rd night and day of counting from the second night of Passover, marking the progression of the Hebrews leaving their Exodus of slavery in Egypt, to seven weeks later, when on the 50th day, they received the Torah at the foot of Mount Sinai, celebrated with the festival of Shavuot (weeks) which will occur this year on Sunday night, May 16th.
With the help of his wife Rebbetzin Luba Glasser, Northeast’s Rabbi David Glasser manned the industrial size grills located outside, and cooked all the hamburgers, frankfurters, delicious roast chicken, and also served French fries, potato salad, pickles, potato chips and the usual BBQ foods, with options for vegan eaters. Kosher marshmallows cooked over a safe bonfire were served for dessert. The weather cooperated, with the light rain not falling until the evening’s festivities were ending.
Almost 100 people enjoyed sitting outdoors on a not chilly evening, seeing the stars in the sky and the musical stars of Pey Dalid’s non-stop musical performance bringing “the fire of HaShem to the world” which moved some to dance, and almost everyone to sing and clap to their favorite musical numbers.
Shlomo Walker explained the band’s name, saying “In Hebrew the letter, Pey represents the number 8, the spiritual and infinite, and Dalid represents the number 4, the physical and finite. Our music bridges the core of those dualities, connecting not only with our Jewish brothers and sisters but with all people throughout the world.”
Based in Yonkers, Pey Dalid has performed as a band for more than 20 years, is available for all types of events, has three studio albums, and will soon be releasing their first official live album. The Northeast Jewish Center Lag BaOmer event on April 29th was the first live concert they have done since the Covid-19 pandemic started more than a year ago, though they have continued to perform weddings, and performed at several “virtual” concerts for different organizations and causes over the last year.
Learn about the Yonkers synagogue’s events and services at (914) 337-0268 or https://www.NortheastJewishCenter.org.
