Image: My neighbor’s house is amazing. (Photo by Adar.)
My neighbor’s house is amazing, like a branch office of Disneyland.
My house has a menorah in the window. One of our poodles is mesmerized by the menorah; we don’t know why.
Many Jews are gathered for a family party, because this is the day that most of us have time off.
Some Jews are gathered with Christian relatives.
Some Jews are going to the movies, and out for Asian food.
Some Jews are feeling awkward about all the “Merry Christmas” greetings, and some are not.
Some Jews have really been enjoying all the wild lights in their neighborhood (that’s me.)
Some Jews are glad they don’t have to clean up the mess afterwards (again, me!)
Some Jews are working, having traded the day with Christian co-workers; they’ll be off for synagogue next Rosh HaShanah.
Some Jews hope the rabbi doesn’t stop by and see their Christmas tree.
Some Jews are feeling really conflicted about all of it.
Some Jews and many others are working today: cops, firefighters, EMTs, doctors, nurses, people at the power company, people working transit, clerks at the 7-11. (Thank you!)
Some Jews are feeling left out.
Some Jews are ladling food at soup kitchens.
Most Jews and their neighbors wish for Peace on Earth, today and every day.
Because there is too much hunger, too much poverty, too much war, too much disease, too much pain, too much sorrow, too much tsuris in the world.
May the new secular year be a year in which we can find a way to work together against war, poverty, hunger, and pain.
May be new secular year be a year in which we have the courage to see new ways of listening and talking, walking and running.
May we have courage. May we have heart. May we have strength.
May we remember this feeling of being the Other the next time we are tempted to Other another.
Amen.
(Adapted from a previous post, in a different year. Time flies, and things change.)
Amen!
My Havanese doggies absolutely love our Chanukah menorahs.
I do love the lights on other’s homes and I do enjoy soft non-religious holiday music.
May the secular bring peace to all.
Chanukah sameach, Pamela!
Thank you – needed this!
On Wed, Dec 25, 2019 at 5:17 PM Coffee Shop Rabbi wrote:
> rabbiadar posted: ” Image: My neighbor’s house is amazing. (Photo by > Adar.) My neighbor’s house is amazing, like a branch office of Disneyland. > My house has a menorah in the window. One of our poodles is mesmerized by > the menorah; we don’t know why. Many Jews are ” >
What’s going on where you are, Connie, that this helped?
I just read this today, 3 days after Christmas. Thank you for this — and thank you for revising old posts and updating them.
Not all Jews are smiles, many are bitter all through the year. There are pleasant and nasty Jews. Show respect and be tolerant of other ways of life.
Most Jews have a job and work around non-Jews. All employees greet others with GOOD MORNING and a smile. Some people are grouchy and others bubbly. I am on the grouchy side but will accept a mild mannered non-Jewish friend.