The 2021 holidays came and went in what seemed a flash this past year. Which for me, was most welcomed. I may be the one in a million person who does not like the mainstream holiday season. There is some sweetness in setting up a tree and the ornaments that hold memories of travels and experiences or major life events. I do take some pleasure in witnessing the glee of opening presents but I also loathe the commercialism of what is supposed to be sacred. I truly detest the materialism of Christmas. I abhor the lie that Jesus (Yeshua) was born in December and the misinformation in that whole story (there were no inns back in the day; the 3 wise men came from India, bring ancient teachings, Jesus was most likely born around the Fall and so on). The truths of the teachings of Yeshua are so far removed from the many translations and have been twisted into dogma and control for two thousand years. If we really did follow Yeshua's teachings, we'd all be a whole different world.
Hanukah, however, feels much more digestible to me. And not because I was raised a Jew. As a Jew, we were always living in the mainstream world but never feeling full a part of. We were part of the world at large, yes, of course. Jews all around my world and the world at large, held positions of power and influence. But we always new we were Jews and Jews were always hated (unconscious bias) by the mainstream. We knew our history and the very real possibility of hate and violence at any given moment (which I personally experienced many times in my childhood.) Every year, come the holidays, when the Mall, local shops, schools, televisions shows started bombarding the masses with the holidays, what always stood out was out commercial it all was and how our holiday, was celebrated much more quietly and subdued. We never got the mainstream hoopla because we were never really part of the mainstream.
So it is, as an adult, with two children, that when the holidays come, it has been a very fine line that I walk. I want my children to know the truth and I want them to have happy times and to make happy memories of the holidays. Don's family, while not religious, even time together. We have a tradition of a Christmas walk and dinner with some friends. Those things, the time with family and friends, in meaningful ways are what I try to stress each holiday season. With Hanukah, we get together with family as well, lighting the candles, playing the dreidel game and eating homemade latkes and matzo ball soup. Their is always laughter and smiles and good times. Those moments also get reinforced when I talk with the girls about the holidays.
This year, Nana was with with for Hanukah, which was special. We spent Christmas day at home, chilling and enjoying the spoils. And I was thankful that the New Year would soon be arriving and with it another holiday season in the rearview mirror and longer and lighter days in the future.
 |
| A very candid photo! |
 |
| Singing carols at a senior home with the Girl Scouts. |
No comments:
Post a Comment