It is the year 5784. Imagine a group that could exist for such an extended period. Imagine a group could maintain itself and its members to a code of conduct, philosophy, and tradition for this long.
This is so beautifully and thoughtfully written Larry. As someone that thought I was 100% Sephardic then finding out that this was very much incorrect! (I am about 50/50 turns out) this brought even a deeper meaning to me even as such a 'technical matrilocal jew)
I feel you. Once I left the relative safety of my predominantly Jewish town and lived in Manhattan and agin when I moved to LA, I felt the pernicious antisemitism in the not so subtle way the streets were filled with Christmas decorations and stores begrudgingly display one meager rack of Chanukah decor. It’s evident in the way the schools encouraged the students to make decorations of Christmas trees and Santa Claus because “they’re not religious “ but making menorahs and dreidels was. Even today, my granddaughters private school “ forgot” to put out any Chanukah decorations at all. I am culpable as well, I married a non-jew and even suffered a Christmas tree for a couple of years before I just couldn’t have one in my Jewish home. A Christmas tree is not a symbol of anything I believe or stand for, once it represented a guiding light for the sun, now it is strictly a Christian symbol.
Thank you. We share many similarities. I don’t openly share my religion, even with my neighbors, who have beautiful Christmas displays outside their houses, and who might wonder why I don’t. We are living in dangerous times 😢
Thank you for this. I love your writing and poetry. Clear and concise. As a Hungarian, I am sure I have some Gypsy in me, so I know the pain of being in the Nazi's crosshairs. However, I do not know the pain for being persecuted because of my religion or my ethnicity of my last name. Thank you for opening the window of your world.
This is so beautifully and thoughtfully written Larry. As someone that thought I was 100% Sephardic then finding out that this was very much incorrect! (I am about 50/50 turns out) this brought even a deeper meaning to me even as such a 'technical matrilocal jew)
I feel you. Once I left the relative safety of my predominantly Jewish town and lived in Manhattan and agin when I moved to LA, I felt the pernicious antisemitism in the not so subtle way the streets were filled with Christmas decorations and stores begrudgingly display one meager rack of Chanukah decor. It’s evident in the way the schools encouraged the students to make decorations of Christmas trees and Santa Claus because “they’re not religious “ but making menorahs and dreidels was. Even today, my granddaughters private school “ forgot” to put out any Chanukah decorations at all. I am culpable as well, I married a non-jew and even suffered a Christmas tree for a couple of years before I just couldn’t have one in my Jewish home. A Christmas tree is not a symbol of anything I believe or stand for, once it represented a guiding light for the sun, now it is strictly a Christian symbol.
Thank you. We share many similarities. I don’t openly share my religion, even with my neighbors, who have beautiful Christmas displays outside their houses, and who might wonder why I don’t. We are living in dangerous times 😢
Thank you for this. I love your writing and poetry. Clear and concise. As a Hungarian, I am sure I have some Gypsy in me, so I know the pain of being in the Nazi's crosshairs. However, I do not know the pain for being persecuted because of my religion or my ethnicity of my last name. Thank you for opening the window of your world.