[BC] Merry Christmas!!!!

[Donna Halper]

>>Steve wrote--
>>I was adopted and raised in the reform Jewish Tradition. We had a tree at
>>Christmas, I sang the carols in school and was in the plays in elementary
>>school. Nobody back then (50's & 60's) had any problems with what many do
>>now.

Well, I was raised in the Conservative tradition (that's the one between 
Orthodox and Reform) and while we respected other people's holidays, we 
didn't observe them, because we had our own.  I do know some Jewish people 
who had trees, but in our tradition, we did not, and that was fine with 
me.  We were taught the Christmas songs in school and I can still sing some 
of them in Latin and in French.  Nobody ever acknowledged other people's 
holidays back then, and I wish they had, but it didn't ruin my life to 
attend a party that was called a Christmas party-- I like anyplace that has 
cake, cookies and ice cream!!!  These days, I think there is more openness 
and understanding of various people's beliefs, and I think that's a good 
thing.  You don't have to agree with something to respect it.  There are 
people on this list with whom I have debated religion off-list, but I love 
them dearly and would stand up for their rights if anybody ever insulted 
their beliefs.  I still hear too many people being judgemental about the 
religious beliefs of those who are different from them-- I wish we could 
conduct such conversations in a spirit of mutual respect, but alas, 
sometimes it seems that politeness is a lost virtue.

Anyway, when my husband and I married, he had 2 kids from his first 
marriage and they were Christian like their mom.  I respected their holiday 
but explained to them that as a Jewish person, I wasn't supposed to observe 
it-- however, I encouraged them to observe it and I am glad they did.  My 
dearest friend is a nun, and many times, I took her to mass (conversely, 
she has come to my home for Passover seder).  As I said before, sometimes 
it seems people get waaaaay too serious about who is doing it right and who 
is saying the right thing and who is pious and who is not.  I for one would 
just like to see a world where everybody's symbols and beliefs are 
respected, and where nobody feels the need to put other people down.  I 
wish my Christian friends a wonderful and blessed Christmas season (and not 
every Christian likes what has happened to Christmas-- the commercialised 
nature of it overwhelms the spiritual message).  But above all, whatever 
your holiday observance,  may you be with people you love, may you  enjoy 
good health, and may we all live to see a more peaceful and humane world in 
2006.