Parents
Parents
Were his parents native to Canada or were they immigrants?
This thread has been copied to this section from the FAQ Forum (a sector with limited access - only for those who have volunteered to help in creating a Leonard Cohen FAQ) because it's of general interest to our members!
Jarkko
Jarkko
Last edited by jarkko on Tue Mar 04, 2003 5:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
You might find some interesting facts about Cohen's background :(grandparents ect..) in this article : http://www.serve.com/cpage/LCohen/interview.html
Cohen talks about his family , also about his perspective of judaism , scientology, zen and solves the mystery of who's the little jew who wrote the bible...
Cohen talks about his family , also about his perspective of judaism , scientology, zen and solves the mystery of who's the little jew who wrote the bible...
Einat I am indebted to you for that link as I imagine a few others will be. That is such an interesting link. I think he was saying he descended from Polish Jews. Is that correct. I need to print it off I don't really digest things too much from the screen I have to see the printed word. That would account for his bond with Poland. My grandparents were Polish Jews. I didn't realise his Grandfather was a Rabbi no wonder his whole being is steeped in religion and tradition.
As you are from Israel I am going to hazard a guess you are Jewish. If you are could you answer me this. I was not brought up Jewish but my dad was Jewish and he is buried in a Jewish Cemetry.
Could you answer both these questions please:-
When we went to visit his graves we took flowers but the Rabbi told us we should put stones on the grave and not flowers why?
When we were going into the main building there was a notice saying anyone called Cohen should not go in. I know it is something to do with hirarcy and the tribes of Israel and it will leave them unclean if they go in but I don't really know why could you help me out.
Thanks
As you are from Israel I am going to hazard a guess you are Jewish. If you are could you answer me this. I was not brought up Jewish but my dad was Jewish and he is buried in a Jewish Cemetry.
Could you answer both these questions please:-
When we went to visit his graves we took flowers but the Rabbi told us we should put stones on the grave and not flowers why?
When we were going into the main building there was a notice saying anyone called Cohen should not go in. I know it is something to do with hirarcy and the tribes of Israel and it will leave them unclean if they go in but I don't really know why could you help me out.
Thanks
Hi Paula , thanks for your reply :-)
Yes , it is an interesting to know Cohen's grandfather was a rabbi . i've heard somewhere that as a young kid Cohen was sent to study in a "Hedder" -that's the traditional orthodox jewish "kidergarden" where kids (as young as 3 , 4) learn how to read( from the bible) and write . However his quite religious background never disturbed him to flirt with christianity , budhaism , ect.
I guess his rabbi grandfather would be tossing in his grave if he knew his grandson is singing about Jesus and visits monasteries! :-)
so in fact , from some jewish circles perspective Cohen is not a jew.
For those who say he's not a jew , Cohen has written a poem called "not a jew" http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/jew.html , he makes it sound like judaism is some kind of a sentence for life...:-)
About your questions : as far as i know there is no rule that forbids placing flowers on graves . placing a small stone on the grave is a jewish costum , im not sure what does it symbolize , if its imprortant to you to know , i could ask someone. About your second question : Cohens are not allowed to enter cemetaries-that's true , btw they can't marry divorced men and women either. During the days of the temple (first and second) the cohens (priests) were incharged of all the relegious rituals and holy ceremonies , therefore they had a high and a special status in society, their purity was an important issue so i guess that is why some religious rules applied to them and not to others.
I hope this helps!
Yes , it is an interesting to know Cohen's grandfather was a rabbi . i've heard somewhere that as a young kid Cohen was sent to study in a "Hedder" -that's the traditional orthodox jewish "kidergarden" where kids (as young as 3 , 4) learn how to read( from the bible) and write . However his quite religious background never disturbed him to flirt with christianity , budhaism , ect.
I guess his rabbi grandfather would be tossing in his grave if he knew his grandson is singing about Jesus and visits monasteries! :-)
so in fact , from some jewish circles perspective Cohen is not a jew.
For those who say he's not a jew , Cohen has written a poem called "not a jew" http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/jew.html , he makes it sound like judaism is some kind of a sentence for life...:-)
About your questions : as far as i know there is no rule that forbids placing flowers on graves . placing a small stone on the grave is a jewish costum , im not sure what does it symbolize , if its imprortant to you to know , i could ask someone. About your second question : Cohens are not allowed to enter cemetaries-that's true , btw they can't marry divorced men and women either. During the days of the temple (first and second) the cohens (priests) were incharged of all the relegious rituals and holy ceremonies , therefore they had a high and a special status in society, their purity was an important issue so i guess that is why some religious rules applied to them and not to others.
I hope this helps!
Hi Einat. The person who told us at the cemetry about the stones did not say we could not put flowers but there were only stones on the other graves and no flowers anywhere. If it is not too much trouble I would like to know why it is stones I think it is something to do with the desert but I could be wrong. I remember reading a book called "A Stone for Danny Fisher" it was a rubbish novel but that was about putting a stone on the grave
Also you said he would be turning in his grave at his singing of Jesus. Do Jews not reconise Jesus at all or is is he a propeth.
Is Cohen the highest in the jewish faith or is it Judah.
It is strange that he felt he could tarry with other religions. Bob Dylan became a Christian and I think he has now gone back to Judaism. It might have been a flirtation
If you have any qualms about answering anything on board please feel free to PM me. It is a religion I feel strangely drawn to.
Also you said he would be turning in his grave at his singing of Jesus. Do Jews not reconise Jesus at all or is is he a propeth.
Is Cohen the highest in the jewish faith or is it Judah.
It is strange that he felt he could tarry with other religions. Bob Dylan became a Christian and I think he has now gone back to Judaism. It might have been a flirtation
If you have any qualms about answering anything on board please feel free to PM me. It is a religion I feel strangely drawn to.
Hi Paula
From a jewish perspective , Jesus in not concidered to be a prophet (or maybe he's concidered to be a false one). I think he's mentioned in the bible (the old testemony) only in a sentence.
Generally , Judaism's attitute twards Jesus and christianity is a complex one , and i think it reflects here and there in Cohen's poems and songs.
I dont believe the tribes were ranked , and in any case Cohens are not a trible , its more like a status (cohen=priest) , an important relegious role , during the days of the temples.
Dylan's story is even more curious :he changed his last name from zimmerman to Dylan (catchier?) , during the 70's he tried twice to become a memeber in a kibbutz , but was declined . then for a cerain time he converted to christianity , then changed his mind , became a jew again , and during the 80's he became a supporter of an extreme right winged relegious movement called "Cahana". I find it quite odd , since he is a simble of the left and the flower generation.
i will check about the stone thingy, I have to mention that sice i didnt get a relegious education , nor brought up that way , my knowledge about certain areas in judaism is somewhat limited, but feel free to ask me further questions , and i'll do my best to answer .
From a jewish perspective , Jesus in not concidered to be a prophet (or maybe he's concidered to be a false one). I think he's mentioned in the bible (the old testemony) only in a sentence.
Generally , Judaism's attitute twards Jesus and christianity is a complex one , and i think it reflects here and there in Cohen's poems and songs.
I dont believe the tribes were ranked , and in any case Cohens are not a trible , its more like a status (cohen=priest) , an important relegious role , during the days of the temples.
Dylan's story is even more curious :he changed his last name from zimmerman to Dylan (catchier?) , during the 70's he tried twice to become a memeber in a kibbutz , but was declined . then for a cerain time he converted to christianity , then changed his mind , became a jew again , and during the 80's he became a supporter of an extreme right winged relegious movement called "Cahana". I find it quite odd , since he is a simble of the left and the flower generation.
i will check about the stone thingy, I have to mention that sice i didnt get a relegious education , nor brought up that way , my knowledge about certain areas in judaism is somewhat limited, but feel free to ask me further questions , and i'll do my best to answer .
I remember Ira Nadel commenting in his biography that being of a rabbinical family, Leonard could not marry a divorced woman, which he (Nadel) claimed was the reason L never married Marianne. I had no idea, though, that simply bearing the surname Cohen could carry such wideranging restrictions and responsibilities. No wonder Leonard has always taken himself so seriously, and been so concerned for the spiritual side of things.
Linda
1972: Leeds, 2008: Manchester, Lyon, London O2, 2009: Wet Weybridge, 2012: Hop Farm/Wembley Arena
1972: Leeds, 2008: Manchester, Lyon, London O2, 2009: Wet Weybridge, 2012: Hop Farm/Wembley Arena
Now I'm getting confused. This is becoming somewhat of a discussion vs. Q&waiting on the A-stage. However, since it's gone this far, linmag, your comment, "that simply bearing the surname Cohen could carry such wideranging restrictions and responsibilities" makes me wonder if you think anyone with the name Cohen couldn't enter the cemetary, etc. ~ which isn't the way I took it ~ but rather that "Cohens" not allowed here, was being used generically and simply meant "priests" not allowed here. Not for sure what you meant, nor what Einat meant ~ anymore. We're off on a bit of a tangent here, but I guess with a tad of cleverness we could mould this into a FAQ 
.
.My take on it is that, as with the first word of a sentence being capitalized, the first word of this statement on a sign was also probably capitalized, causing it to appear like a surname rather than a generic title, generally done in lower-case. If it were anything other than the latter, over here, such a restriction would result in a class-action suit .
.I don't know what a class action is but I think you mean it would discrimiate against anyone called Cohen. The sign on the wall was not a command but a reminder to any Cohens who were going to enter the building that they would then be unclean until they did what ever it is they needed to do to cleanse themselves. If one of their number died they would have to go into the building.
My dad always told me women were not allowed in to the synagoge I think that has changed now.
My dad always told me women were not allowed in to the synagoge I think that has changed now.
Hi linmag, From a religious jewish point of view , Cohen couldn't have married Marianne anyway , because she is not jewish. But Cohen is far from being an orthodox jew , and doesnt live his life according to the "Hallacha" (the hallacha is , or are, a bunch of books thats were written after the bible was sealed and contain interpretations of the bible and set of rules about practical issues of everyday life) , so i doubt it if the fact that is he is a Cohen , had anything to do with the fact he didnt marry her.
about restrictions ect... i think i wasnt clear about Cohens status Nowdays : they have no special status today. Moishe Cohen is as important as Rivka Levi and shlomkeh Birenbaum.:-) , and on the practical level i belive Cohens do go to cemetaries if they have to , no one at the gate is going to ask them what is their last name. Most of the jews today are not orthodox and do not live their life according to the "Hallacha" but they chose for themselves what rules to follow , and to what extent.
btw , the most common last name in israel is Cohen , ive met many people who took themselves too seriously , but their last name wasn't the reason! :-)
about restrictions ect... i think i wasnt clear about Cohens status Nowdays : they have no special status today. Moishe Cohen is as important as Rivka Levi and shlomkeh Birenbaum.:-) , and on the practical level i belive Cohens do go to cemetaries if they have to , no one at the gate is going to ask them what is their last name. Most of the jews today are not orthodox and do not live their life according to the "Hallacha" but they chose for themselves what rules to follow , and to what extent.
btw , the most common last name in israel is Cohen , ive met many people who took themselves too seriously , but their last name wasn't the reason! :-)