My extended family is a hodgepodge of religion. Despite the fact that my grandparents - parents to 9 kids - were ardent Catholics, my cousins and I have "broadened our horizons," so to speak. We have one that converted to Conservative Judaism, a Buddhist and a few non-practicing general Golden Rule Christians and, I am sure, a handful of atheists. That's not even counting the married-ins.
Today I had my first "Intro to Judaism" class. Now, I have had several rude introductions t Judaism, thanks to my sisters-in-law, but I don't think that is the kind of introduction that Judaism would have wanted, quite frankly.
This morning, as I will do every Sunday morning until mid-April), I met with 7 other people who are either Jews or about to become part of an Interfaith family to learn more about Judaism. I am hoping this goes better than The Mothers' Circle, which I, frankly, could have taught. We met with a great Rabbi and had some enlightening conversation. Not bad for a first day.
Rabbi Debbie said something that I thought was profound. A lot of emphasis is put on "Jews by Choice" in our temple. But, she said, we all choose our religion. So even if you are born Jewish, you still have to make the choice to believe in Torah and practice Judaism (or not). Or you can choose to convert, or to practice no religion. This was an interesting take. Through this paradigm, we are ALL "Jews by Choice." Because of my many, many issues, I like to identify with a large group. "ALL" is a pretty large group.
So what does this mean? We have been struggling (let's be honest, I have been struggling - Osi will go along because he is supportive like that) with what to do about Chrismukka this year. Is THIS the year we take the Chris out of Chrismukka? Do we go all Hanukkah all the time at Chez Zimmer? I dunno. Maybe if there could be Hanukkah stockings. I REALLY like the stockings.
Believe it or not, Christmas is what is holding me back. I love, love, looooooove Christmas. Like a kid loves Christmas. The thought of not having Christmas hurts my heart. But when I go to temple and read the prayers, THAT is what speaks to me. Never Catholicism. My soul was never spiritually fed by anything the Pope or the Catholic Church had to say. But, at the risk of cheesiness, Judaism speaks to me. I feel better after Friday night services. I feel at peace as we light Shabbat candles on the Friday nights that we make Shabbat. It feels right.
What to do about the Christmas tree, the Santa Claus, the outside lights. I just don't know. I am hoping that once Judaism introduces itself, it has a few answers for me, as well.
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6 comments:
Well, as all of us laid-back Catholics like to point out, Yeshua bar Joseph was a Jew before he became "The Big JC." So why not make 12/25 what it really should have been in the first place--a nice little birthday party for a member of the family? A birthday party has some presents, some candles and lots and lots of cake. Growing up, my parish always wanted us to stress the giving-ness of Christmas, the being together with loved ones and praying for peace and goodwill. "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." If what speaks to you about Christmas is waking up in the morning with all the excitment of a birthday party you had as a child, being surrounded by family, and wonder, and an annual tradition deeply rooted in your heart, then by all means, have a little birthday party for Uncle Yeshua and let Jack learn that there doesn't have to be a divide, just because some people are God's Chosen, and some of us needed an extra Testament. :-) Eventually Jack's gonna realize that other people have big Christmas celebrations, but that doesn't mean he has to buy into the whole parcel, OR reject it out of hand. Just my two cents.
Better late than never that I should be catching up on your blog. As a person who is constantly tearing my hair out over my faith, lack thereof, religion, and lack thereof, I have to ask the telltale question: Do you believe Jesus was, and that he was who he claimed to be? This is not a rhetorical question. It seems like the question of Chrismukkah, and which way things are going to go for you on that front, hinges a lot on that question. Doesn't it?
Ah, Miss Moneypenny, there's the rub. I am struggling with that question even now as I consider conversion. My biggest problem with converts to Judaism is "How do you believe in Jesus one day and not the next?" My answer is that the Big JC and I have not had a relationship for some time now, but the Big G? Well, I talk to him every night. So it has been a slow difting away rather than a "It's Tuesday - no Jesus today" kind of thing.
Here is my answer and I really do believe it: I think Jesus WILL come back and I think he is going to be the Messiah the Jews will have been waitin for. It's the same dude, get it? Just a gut feeling from someone with no religious knowledge whatsoever.
Hmmm, then maybe I'm screwed on this front. As a philosophical Catholic (which I differentiate from "Christian" thankyouverymuch) I acknowledge that there was a man named Jesus that lived in Galilee about 2000 years ago; said Jesus wandered up and down the town, preaching in a way different from the Pharisees and the Essenes, and his mind-blowing reveltation was that although God picked the Jews as his "chosen people", ANYBODY could join the club. NOW: the question of the diviniy of Christ as the eternal son born of a virgin mother and sent from heaven to redeem the world? Those are all questions that have been debated in form and degree by the Church itself, used as political ploys and excuses for power-mad leaders to beat the sh*t out of each other. So I guess what I am saying is: the details and dogma of religion are not synonymous with the question of faith, and the trappings of religious celebration do not necessarily define the spirit in which that celebration is meant. I'll probbaly be excommunicated for this when the pope reads the blog, but I'll take that chance. It seems to me that what you (Chris) love the most about both Judaism and your Catholic tradition is the love of God, the love of tradition, the reciprociy of feeling and the community that calls you to look inside yourself, draw out your best self, and be that person, that shining light for those you love. Now whether that light is on a menorah, or on a star atop a tree, it's still the same light. Maybe one version is shining a little brighter than the other, but it doesn't mean they're not compatible.
OK, rambling now. Hope that made sense outside as it did in my head...
One side note - Jews are called the "Chosen" people because they chose God. The story goes that God went to all the religions of the time and asked each if they would agree to the terms he was setting (praying three times a day, keeping kosher, etc.). All the other religions said "Nope. Too much work, dude." The Jews were the ones that "chose" to accept God's terms/challenge.
Secondly, I'm seriously going to be bummed if I can't talk Osi into Chanukah Socks. Have I mentioned how much i like the stockings?
Yeah, and the circumcision thing too. I'm pretty sure that was a biggie. :-)
Go for the socks! Or at least slippers! I have to fill my kids' shoes on 12/05 for Saint Nicholas Day, but they just get candy and maybe a nice crayon that I've rescued from between the car seats...
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