Rosh Hashanah Torah Portion: “Highway 61”
The torah portion for the second day of Rosh Hashanah (first day in Reform temples) is the story of the binding of Isaac by Abraham. Quoting from Reform Judaism:
This portion is commonly known as The Akeidah, or “the binding.” God calls upon Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as a supreme test of faith. Abraham, God’s loyal servant, agrees. Just as Abraham is about to offer his son up as a sacrifice, an angel calls out to him, instructing him not to harm the boy, and Abraham sacrifices a ram in place of his son.
That is a very brief overview of the lesson.
Bob Dylan told the story even more briefly in the title track of his 1965 masterpiece Highway 61 Revisited. The familiar first stanza is:
Oh, God said to Abraham, “Kill me a son”
Abe said, “Man, you must be puttin’ me on”
God said, “No” Abe say, “What?”
God say, “You can do what you want, Abe, but, uh
The next time you see me comin’, you better run”
Well, Abe said, “Where d’you want this killin’ done?”
God said, “Out on Highway 61”
The amazing band here features Michael Bloomfield, guitar; Al Kooper, Hammond B3 organ, piano, police siren; Harvey Brooks, bass; and Sam Lay, drums:
Also, Dylan’s father was named Abraham, so there’s that.
Others have covered the song, but none so brilliantly as Johnny Winter on his three-sided opus Second Winter: