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Being Jewish at Christmas
Mom, can we get a Christmas tree? I asked my then 4 year old son.
Apparently, a simple question, but I've been dreading since my son was born.
Born and raised in Israel. As a kid, I saw on TV to get Christians to their churches Jerusalem and Bethlehem services. This was the only exposure to Christmas I was in Israel. No Christmas tree, no presents, not Santa Claus ... When I arrived to the U.S. in my twenties, I was amazed and surprised that I'm gone through the holiday season. Nothing I had known before had prepared me. The constant flow chocolate and biscuits to the insurance company, I used to work for the commercial popularity, parties, shows the colorful Christmas trees everywhere Santa Claus in all stores, and of course, camaraderie "atmosphere of the whole world around me. Everyone celebrates Christmas. Or at least so it seemed. It was everywhere. We could not avoid. You could not hide. But at the same time - I could not attend this properly. I went to a game or two, but it was my holiday. I spent through different stages in years. At first I felt very uncomfortable when someone says "Merry Christmas." Everyone assumed or taken for granted that you are one of them - whether Christian or Catholic, or any other denomination that celebrates the birth of Jesus.
I felt the need to "retaliate" - Or I'd be betraying myself, my parents, my identity. I would answer - "I'm Jewish, not celebrate Christmas and see his expression became to the amazement and compassion, as he murmured: "Oh, sorry ..." as if they had never thought that some people do not celebrate Christmas. I always thought that he felt sorry for me to celebrate Christmas - almost like a flash of a thought crossed his mind that his life would be without Christmas. An unbearable thought ... And then there are those who said that in a form of "MMMEEE oh, sorry, I did not know that I offended you wishing you a Merry Christmas!
As the years passed and I am more acclimated the Christmas season, I began to attend (and even taking) a part of the festivities. He no longer felt the need to "retaliate" but still looking at a stranger, was not my holiday.
When my son was born, I began to celebrate various Jewish holidays. Growing up in a Jewish state, I have not had to do something special to celebrate the holidays. It was everywhere. Everyone around me were Jewish. But this was different. I had to do something actively to celebrate the fact Jews. I used to think that freedom of religion includes freedom from religion. But when my son was born, I wanted to have a sense of religion, and, naturally, would Judaism. We began to light the menorah for Hanukkah and celebrating with the traditional Passover meal.
One day my son came home from pre-school singing "Jingle Bells". I was 4 years and was the week before Christmas. And then comes the dreaded question - "Can we have a tree Christmas? ". It is time for" the talk "- no, not the birds and bees story of a thing called" religion. "I sat with him and told him not to celebrate Christmas because we are Jews. We celebrate Chanukah instead. It tells the Hanukkah menorah and sing songs, instead of decorating a Christmas tree and sing carols. It is a difficult subject for children from 4 years to understand. I saw his expression change as he was the processing of information. It still confusing. What should we do with the other? Why can we not celebrate both? Yes, we celebrated Hanukkah last week but what about the Christmas Next week? And that means that Santa Claus will not visit our house? And my gift? Have not I been good all year? ...
Hmmm. Do not think about that. What I do now? "I sent a question to the group of single mothers I am one, asking mom the other perspective. Most of the responses came from Jewish mother and his colleagues have highlighted the different ways each celebrates Hanukkah. But this still does not address the problem. A Jewish mother, who is the daughter half African-American, said they were celebrating, "Everything" - Hanukkah, Kwanza, Christmas, and some others.
I liked the idea. This made me think - What if they have adapted and began to celebrate Christmas, Jewish style? Will it work with our religious identity? Are we breaking a religious or ethical standards? Or is it just that uncomfortable "Christmasy" feeling up again? What about the strength of my belief in good and evil? Was it really wrong?
After much consideration (and bothers my son), I decided to start "celebrating" Christmas, Jewish style. We went to the store and picked up a tree, has some medals, came home had some punch to decorate the tree. This discussion was not about Jesus or the meaning of Christmas, but not presents under the tree Christmas morning Santa. My son was ecstatic. This could speak to anyone who asked (almost everywhere we go) you have for Christmas, instead of having to say - in a dark side - "Santa does not come with us - we are Jews ..." or "celebrate Christmas" and get the look "Mercy" the world around them.
And when he grows up will be able to tell their friends at school about the time I "discovered no Santa Claus ...
Yes, peer pressure is a powerful thing. Although not as powerful as the love of a mother to her son.
About the Author
Dee Adams is a mom to a 7 year old boy and the owner of Cool Kids Places (
http://www.cool-kids-places.com
), a website for parents looking for fun and interesting places to go with their kids.
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Fred Bees Bethlehem Moravian College |  |
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US $20.10 | 26d 15h 43m |
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Fred Bees Bethlehem Moravian Bethlehem | |
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US $26.80 | 26d 12h 25m |
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Fred Bees Litho Rare Moravian Bethlehem Pa | |
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US $77.05 | 21d 15h 32m |
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Fred Bees Mini Litho Rare Moravian Bethlehem Pa | |
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US $49.99 | 17d 17h 47m |
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Summertime List Price: $17.98 Sale Price: $12.02  |
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THE STORY OF EARLY BETHLEHEM IN PENNSYLVANIA: AS TOLD TO TOMMY BROOKS OF PHILADELPHIA BY ANDY BROWN OF BETHLEHEM (WITH THE HELP OF ANDY BROWN'S FATHER AND MOTHER) BY WALSER H. ALLEN (PAMPHLET) 1973 MORAVIAN BOOK SHOP |
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A HARD-TO-FIND 50-PAGE PAMPHLET (6"W BY 9"L) OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA BY WALSER H. ALLEN--BASED ON FACT BUT INFORMAL AND PRIMARILY FOR CHILDREN. WITH B&W ILLUSTRATIONS BY FRED BEES... |
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Church Street in Old Bethlehem: an Historical Pamphlet |
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Story of Early Bethlehem in Pennsylvania |
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3 Additional Bees $6.4 Three additional bees for your Hide-A-Bee plush toy. This is a toy that challenges and develops your dog's intelligence and puzzle solving skills. We think this toy should only be used when you are there to watch and help. A frustrated dog might chew on the toys and ruin them. You don't want that. You should be there to help your dog learn how to properly use the toy and replace the squeak toys once they have been removed. Then it should be picked up when playtime is over. The bees are 5" long. |
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Busy Bees Canvas Reproduction $110 This whimsical honey bees canvas is the perfect playful touch to any nursery or childs room. Giclee, pronounced (zhee-clay), is a new advanced printmaking process developed for producing the highest quality fine art reproductions available and the result is an identical reproduction that is truly remarkable and is indistinguishable from the original artwork. Each giclee is printed onto canvas and then stretched (wrapped gallery style) onto wood stretchers. So, what you are getting is a piece of artwork with the look and feel of an original painting. The canvas is stapled in the back and the sides have a nice decorative finish. There is no glass to break which makes each piece very kid friendly. Cleaning is also very easy, as they can be cleaned with soap and water. There is a sawtooth hanger mounted on the back for easy hanging. You have the option to purchase this canvas framed or unframed. Framed canvas measures 20" x 24". |
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Baby Bees Baby Bedding $895 This feminine crib set from The Gordonsbury Company adds a delicate feel to her nursery. Each piece is hand embroidered with careful attention to detail. The crib set includes a quilt, crib skirt (14" drop), bumper and one fitted embroidered crib sheet. Matching diaper stacker, boudoir pillow case with insert, cotton cable blanket, duvet cover and extra sheets are also available as options to complete the nursery setting. Pillows and other accessories shown in crib are for display only and should be removed when baby is in crib. Linens are available in pink gingham (as shown) or blue gingham. *Please note, the bumper is only embroidered on one side* |
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SIGG Kids Bottle- 3L - Bees 'n Beetles $16.99 Help reduce your ecological footprint by replacing your regular plastic water bottles with the SIGG water bottle. The first bottle in the truest sense of the word. SIGG bottles: the original. Often copied but never matched, because behind each bottle is Swiss know-how and pure high-tech. In so many patterns and designs, you'll find one that's as special as your little one. Features: Bottle Top Screw top with a dirt-proof cap is absolutely leak-proof One turn and it's ready to use Ideal for both adults and children Bottle Body Extruded from a single piece of pure aluminum, no seams Highest stability with lowest weight Rich colors achieved with a solvent-free coating powder 100% recyclable Holds .3 liters of liquid - 10 oz Internal Coating Guaranteed to be taste-neutral and resistant to fruit acids and isotonic drinks Fulfills FDA requirements Elastic and unbreakable Will not peel off, even if dented on the outside |
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Busy Bees and Fun Firefly Stroller Toys $11.95 Unique toys easily clip on to strollers for traveling fun.  Each character provides bright colors, patterns, movement, sounds and textures to keep baby entertained. |
Filed under Paintings by on Feb 20th, 2005. 
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