Did you hear about that huge party on Wednesday night? Everyone is gonna be there. Chris, Thomas, Peter, everybody!
Actually, I didn’t get the invite. I don’t think I’m the only one though. Approximately 75% of my building also has yet to recieve their invitation.
Christmas is a tough time for Jews. On the one hand, it’s a spectacular time of year. The scenary is beautiful. Home Alone is on basically every night. Families are getting together to bond and give each other poorly knitted sweaters with ducks on them.
On the other hand, it’s not for us. Imagine if there was a larger Jewish population and Rosh Hashanah was on a Christmas-like scale. Christians would be soooooooooooooo jealous. “You get to hear two sermons! No fair!”
In a great piece I just read on MJL, Ron Wolfson compares Christmas to birthday parties for young children. Kids are taught to learn that while parties are fun, not all of the presents are theirs, nor is the birthday cake theirs to blow out.
Hanukkah gives us a chance to have something for ourselves during this season. But try as hard as some do, it just isn’t the same. And nor should it be. Sometimes, it’s ok just to be the guest at the party.
But for those who need more, or need some advice on how to tackle this time of year in an interfaith family, MJL has a really great section that gives a good history of the Jews and Christmas. Fun fact of the day that I just learned: Herzl had a Christmas tree. Crazy.
And if this scene from Home Alone doesn’t make you tear up, you have no soul.
Rosh Hashanah
Pronounced: roshe hah-SHAH-nah, also roshe ha-shah-NAH, Origin: Hebrew, the Jewish new year.
