Jewish parents like mine, raising kids in an overwhelmingly Christian community, had an obvious problem starting in early December: Christmas was everywhere.
Exactly what it was like to attend Ansonia, CT elementary schools in the 1950s. They said the Lord’s Prayer every morning (Jewish kids were allowed to remain silent). By 5th grade, I was one of two Jewish kids at the Willis School. When asked what Chanukah materials to include in the annual Christmas (not Holiday) Pageant, I said, “Those kids are just as tired of hearing the story of Chanukah as I am hearing about Christmas. The Constitution says no religion in the schools. Let’s just skip the whole thing.” That was when I first got labeled “bad attitude.”
I'm again so happy that I grew up in a Chicago neighborhood which was (probably) 85% Jewish. It was wonderful to be part of a majority, even though I knew that goyim outnumbered us outside of Albany Park. Also, happy that I came to Israel as a teen and was part of a Zionist youth movement (HaShomer HaTzair).
Here in Guatemala, where I've lived for 32 years, there's a Chabad a block away. Although I'm a completely secular Jew, I was accepted ... which amazed me, because I was upfront in telling them that I wasn't at all religious. But, it was good enough that I am proud and happy to be a Jew.
I knew you were in Hashomer Hatzair, though I don't think we ever met. However for some reason I thought you were from Detroit. What are you doing all these years in Guatemala? Wishing you a Chanukah Sameach. Hillel
Shalom rav, Hillel. I just wrote a long note to you, but it's disappeared. I wrote that I know that Schenker was a very important person in the t'nuah, but don't know whether that was you or your father (I think that it's BOTH!). Chicago and Detroit did so much together that we were lumped together. And, as for Guatemala, I came here 32 years ago to spend a Chicago winter in a warmer place ... and also to learn Spanish. It's so wonderful that I stayed!! and am one of MANY 'gringos' who came to study Spanish many years ago, and they stayed, too. I'm glad you 'made it' in Israel.
Well, in all the Brooklyn neighborhoods I lived in during my childhood and youth Jews tended to be the majority, so there were chanukiot in all the windows. We also prided ourselves that while the Christians had one day of receiving presents, we had 8 days of presents! And of course in the Hashomer Hatzair socialist-Zionist youth movement we didn't sing Christmas songs either. And when I crossed the street from Midwood High School to Brooklyn College at the age of 16 1/2, when the holiday season came around, the church bells played alternating Christmas carols and Chanukah songs. Over half of the student body and the majority of the faculty were Jewish. I gather that's no longer the case today.
I particularly like "you want to shoot the Easter bunny?” I always wondered as well, why eggs were decorated. Was it because the Easter bunny laid them? How splendid it is tomorrow when Xmas and Chanukah are the same day, with Kwanza the next day. Also, I think there should be a Atheist's Day as well.
Exactly what it was like to attend Ansonia, CT elementary schools in the 1950s. They said the Lord’s Prayer every morning (Jewish kids were allowed to remain silent). By 5th grade, I was one of two Jewish kids at the Willis School. When asked what Chanukah materials to include in the annual Christmas (not Holiday) Pageant, I said, “Those kids are just as tired of hearing the story of Chanukah as I am hearing about Christmas. The Constitution says no religion in the schools. Let’s just skip the whole thing.” That was when I first got labeled “bad attitude.”
I'm again so happy that I grew up in a Chicago neighborhood which was (probably) 85% Jewish. It was wonderful to be part of a majority, even though I knew that goyim outnumbered us outside of Albany Park. Also, happy that I came to Israel as a teen and was part of a Zionist youth movement (HaShomer HaTzair).
Here in Guatemala, where I've lived for 32 years, there's a Chabad a block away. Although I'm a completely secular Jew, I was accepted ... which amazed me, because I was upfront in telling them that I wasn't at all religious. But, it was good enough that I am proud and happy to be a Jew.
I knew you were in Hashomer Hatzair, though I don't think we ever met. However for some reason I thought you were from Detroit. What are you doing all these years in Guatemala? Wishing you a Chanukah Sameach. Hillel
Shoot the easter bunny...sums it all up.
Shalom rav, Hillel. I just wrote a long note to you, but it's disappeared. I wrote that I know that Schenker was a very important person in the t'nuah, but don't know whether that was you or your father (I think that it's BOTH!). Chicago and Detroit did so much together that we were lumped together. And, as for Guatemala, I came here 32 years ago to spend a Chicago winter in a warmer place ... and also to learn Spanish. It's so wonderful that I stayed!! and am one of MANY 'gringos' who came to study Spanish many years ago, and they stayed, too. I'm glad you 'made it' in Israel.
Well, in all the Brooklyn neighborhoods I lived in during my childhood and youth Jews tended to be the majority, so there were chanukiot in all the windows. We also prided ourselves that while the Christians had one day of receiving presents, we had 8 days of presents! And of course in the Hashomer Hatzair socialist-Zionist youth movement we didn't sing Christmas songs either. And when I crossed the street from Midwood High School to Brooklyn College at the age of 16 1/2, when the holiday season came around, the church bells played alternating Christmas carols and Chanukah songs. Over half of the student body and the majority of the faculty were Jewish. I gather that's no longer the case today.
A gift! From a gifted writer
I’m reminded of the time before I was born when my sisters insisted on hanging stockings on our fireplace mantel.
Next morning, my sisters found the stockings filled with coal my parents had placed there.
No trauma. Laughter.
I particularly like "you want to shoot the Easter bunny?” I always wondered as well, why eggs were decorated. Was it because the Easter bunny laid them? How splendid it is tomorrow when Xmas and Chanukah are the same day, with Kwanza the next day. Also, I think there should be a Atheist's Day as well.