Reb Jeff
  • Blog
  • About
  • Favorites
  • Resources
  • Wedding Officiation
  • Stay in Touch
  • Contact Me
  • Temple Sinai

What Is this "Christmas" of which You Speak?

12/25/2012

 
It's a family joke of ours. "Christmas? What is this thing of which you speak?" It would be an exaggeration to say that there are no signs of Christmas in Israel today. There are, but it is on a scale something like the signs you would see of Chinese New Year in an American city. If you're in the right neighborhood, you'll see it. Elsewhere, it is no more than a rumor.
Picture
That's just fine with my children, who have had Christmas up to their ears since Thanksgiving in the United States. They are delighted to be in a country where there are more Chanukah menorahs in sight (more than a week since Chanukah ended) than there are Christmas trees visible on Christmas day. 

We entered Jerusalem today and took a moment to view her from Mount Scopus before driving down into the heart of the city. Yes, we saw some Christmas lights over the wall of the Old City as we passed the Christian Quarter, but down on Ben Yehuda Street where we had dinner it was just another bustling and busy night in the city. 

This is the first time my wife and I have been in Jerusalem in sixteen years, since before our children were born. It was a treat to show them the apartment building where we lived, the streets where I walked to school every day, and the restaurants where we went on special occasions. Jerusalem is "Ir HaKodesh," the Holy City, but it is also a place where my wife and I have many good memories, both sacred and profane. It's good to be back home.

Jerusalem is the last stop on our trip, but we will be here for another eight days. The main focus of our stay will be the the celebration of my niece as a bat mitzvah on Thursday morning. She will read from Torah at Robinson's Arch, part of the Davidson Center on the southern wall of the Temple Mount. 

This has become a popular choice in recent years for non-orthodox families who wish to celebrate a bar or bat mitzvah at a holy site in Israel where men and women can worship together and where women can read from Torah. That is not an option at the Kotel, the Western Wall, because it is controlled by the Orthodox Rabbinate and they enforce their standards of Jewish practice on everyone, regardless of the individual's practices or affiliations. 

It is a small reminder, but a sometimes painful one, that even in this country where Judaism is the dominant culture—where it is in the air we breathe—there is a narrow view of what kind of Judaism is "the right kind." At times, it can make me feel that my Judaism is less welcomed by some in this country than a Christmas tree in Zion Square. Ah, well.

It will not stop us from rejoicing. We are in Jerusalem, Ir HaKodesh! Our joy increases with the celebration of a young woman coming into her own as a daughter of our tradition in the heart of our people. What could be wrong on such an occasion!

Picture
And, by the way, here is my sister and her family, including the bat mitzvah girl! My sister is a loyal reader of this blog and she asked me tonight, "When are we going to be in the blog?" Well, my dear, here you are!
Barb L
12/25/2012 08:09:03 am

Mazel tov! What a wonderful celebration!

Ronnie Fassberg
12/25/2012 09:59:40 am

Bravo for those words, Jeff. As the mother (and grandmother) of one Israeli citizen (albeit only for the past 16 years) and of two Israeli citizens (real sabras, aged 13 and 7), you have expressed the opinions of so many. This July 4th, when we celebrate Eytan's Bar Mitzvah at Robinson's Arch, it will be for the same reasons that you will welcome your niece into a new phase of her life in Judiasm.
Somehow, as long and active supporters of the state of Israel and fellow Jews, it does seem unfair that we can only have such mitzvahs in places prescribed by a minority. Perhaps some of the problems currently expressed in Israeli newspapers could have been avoided if the agreements of 1948 had been more thoughtful.
Mazel tov on your simcha and we look forward to your report on the life cycle event.


Comments are closed.

    Welcome

    This blog is about living a joyful Jewish life and bringing joy to synagogues and the Jewish community. Join the conversation by commenting on posts and sharing your experiences. For more on the topic, read the First Post.
    "Like" Reb Jeff on FB

    RSS Feed

    Enter your email address to subscribe to Reb Jeff posts by email

    Follow Reb Jeff's Tweets

    Recent Posts

    The Honor of Heaven
    Chasing Our Own Tails
    Drilling Under Your Seat
    Change the World
    Self-Righteousness
    Where We Came From
    What We Must Believe
    ​Is Passover 7 or 8 Days?Origin Story
    Va'eira: Leadership​

    Jeff's Favorites

    • First Post
    • Searching for How the Bible Defines Marriage 
    • The Difference between God and Religion
    • In the Beginning of What?
    • Rape, Abortion and Judaism
    • Ten Thoughts about Being a Rabbi
    • Temple Dues and Don'ts
    • A Pesach Lesson from Yoga
    • The Purpose of the Torah

    Torah Portions

    Genesis
    Bereshit
    Noach
    Lech Lecha
    Vayera
    Chayei Sarah
    Toledot
    Vayetze
    Vayishlach
    Vayeshev
    Miketz
    Vayigash
    Vayechi

    Exodus
    Shemot
    Va'eira
    Bo
    Beshalach
    Yitro
    Mishpatim
    Terumah
    Tetzaveh
    Ki Tisa
    Vayakhel
    Pekudei

    Leviticus
    Vayikra
    Tzav
    Shemini
    Tazria
    Metzora
    Acharei Mot
    Kedoshim
    Emor
    Behar
    Bechukotai

    Numbers
    Bamidbar
    Naso
    Beha'alotecha
    Shelach
    Korach
    Chukat
    Balak
    Pinchas
    Matot
    Masei

    Deuteronomy
    Devarim
    Va'etchanan
    Ekev
    Re'eh
    Shoftim
    Ki Tetze
    Ki Tavo
    Nitzavim
    Vayelech
    Ha'azinu
    Vezot Haberachah

    Holidays
    Shabbat
    Rosh Chodesh
    Pesach/Passover
    Omer Period
    Yom HaShoah
    Yom HaZikaron
    Yom Ha'atzma'ut
    Pesach Sheini
    Lag B'Omer
    Yom Yerushalayim
    Shavuot
    Fast of Tammuz
    Tisha B'Av
    Tu B'Av
    Rosh Hashanah
    Days of Awe
    Yom Kippur
    Sukkot
    Hoshanah Rabbah
    Shmini Atzeret/
    Simchat Torah
    Chanukah
    Tu BiShvat
    Adar (Joy Increases!)
    Purim

    Archives

    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011

    Loading
    Jewish Bloggers
    Powered By Ringsurf
    Picture