Holidays

Celebrating Holidays in the Interfaith Family

HOME SWEET HOME: Celebrating Holidays in Interfaith Families   Christmas and Chanukah, Easter and Passover, December and April can be challenging times for Jewish families and interfaith families. The whole country seems to be wrapped up in a holiday that Jews don’t observe. Can an interfaith family celebrate both holidays? How would that work for…

Read More »

Let’s Talk about Christmas

  Every year I tell you not to start negotiating change in December.  Here we are in early November so we can talk about tweaking the December holidays.  I’m not suggesting a complete overhaul.  (Making big changes should be discussed and anticipated.)  But knowing that we are heading into December brings up the question: of…

Read More »

Remembering 9-11

Dear Friends,   Eight years ago we all ran to the television or the radio as we learned the news of the planes hitting the Twin Towers in New York.  It was a morning of shock and fear.  I know for a fact that at least one person on this list was one of the…

Read More »

Posted in Holidays
Published on September 11th, 2009

9-11

Dear Chevreh, Rabbi Menachem Creditor shared these memories and thoughts on that Sept. 11, eight years ago.     I remember leaving class at JTS that Tuesday morning and going downstairs to move my car.  A friend was in the elevator when I got in and asked, “did you hear about the planes that flew into the World…

Read More »

Joy instead of Just Hassle

The big crush of Chanukah meets Christmas will begin this coming weekend when Chanukah starts on Sunday night.  With it comes the question of just how many presents do we give the kids?  How will we wrap them?  Where and when will we open them?   I vote for fewer presents and more memories.  Every…

Read More »

Holiday Happiness Guidelines

Every year I advocate for memories over materialism. Be with the people you love instead of shopping for them. I always send you a list of things you can do with loved ones. Take each night of Chanukah, and add any nights for Christmas or other holidays you observe this month and have fun with…

Read More »