#1. I’m Jewish. So actually I have no business writing about Christmas. Or confessions.
#2. I grew up in a kosher home. We also hung stockings and got presents Christmas morning.
#3. My husband is Christian. But he claims he doesn’t mind that we don’t have a Christmas tree.
#4. I always yearned for a Christmas tree.
#5. I stopped yearning for a tree when my first husband (who was Jewish) surprised me and the kids one year with a Christmas tree— in a box.
#6. I have pictures of me sitting on Santa’s lap as a child. And as an adult.
#7. I love Christmas songs. Especially singing them.
#8. When I was a kid, I sang Christmas songs but I would never pronounce the word “Christ”– because I was afraid something bad would happen to me.
#9. I love seeing family pictures on Christmas cards. I also love that being Jewish means I never have to send out cards of my own.
#10. This post is a repeat from last Christmas.
Darryle,
I’m also Jewish & also love singing many carols (some are just too sappy). But I have to admit I think it’s a bit weird that your family kept kosher AND celebrated Christmas!
At the time, I never thought it was weird at all. After I grew up I realized my mother, although she was born Jewish, wanted us to experience Christmas as she did. It just proves families can figure out all sorts of creative solutions and kids can make sense of anything. And happy Christmukah to you.
I am a Christian, but in Cuba, the jewish people celebrate the Holidays with us. The word Jewish I heard for the first time in the US. In Cuba they were Polacs, Turks, Moors, etc. Since the were not in the provinces Jewish Schools, they went to either Public Schools or Presbiterian and Baptist School.
When I came to US working on TVJ, I met the Mitrani and Behar Family. One Christmas Bob Behar was schedule to work Christmas and Christmas eve, and I have to convince Joe Kline, a wonderful jewish person, that the 24th and 25th of Decem ber was a Cuban Holiday in order to Bob and his family can come to my House to eat a rosted Pork, chicharrones, black beans soup and all the trimmings. They did.
I Love the old testament, as well as the new. Without one the other do not make any sense. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays or Whatever, is time to be Jolly, Love all Manny
I’ve known Jewish Cubans (or Cuban Jews?) but it’s so interesting hearing how things were there. Love your stories, your memories, most of all Manny, I love your attitude. Merry Christmas and Happy HOlidays to you!