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Handling the December
Holidays: Ten Tips from InterfaithFamily.com. By Ronnie Friedland and Edmund Case Note: The following is an excerpt from that article. Okay, so you are intermarried, and have to deal with both Christmas and Hanukkah. What to do? According to experts who have written for InterfaithFamily.com, a free Internet magazine for intermarried families, here are some tips. 1. If you are raising Jewish children and don't know what to do about Christmas (or if you are raising Christian children and don't know what to do about Hanukkah), our experts say that it is okay to participate in the holiday as a way of respecting the non-Jewish (or Jewish) spouse and family. You can tell your kids, "Today we're going to Grandma's house for Christmas because that is Daddy's (or Mommy's) holiday. We'll help him and his family celebrate, just as he helps us celebrate Hanukkah." 2. Keep the focus on the children's needs. What kids most love about Christmas is not the presents but the family togetherness. You don't need to focus on the gifts; it is having the family all together which will make it most meaningful for your children. And help children understand that they can enjoy Christmas and Hanukkah activities without betraying either parent or their religious upbringing. At the same time, use holidays to reinforce children's religious identity. 3. If you are raising Jewish kids and they feel uncomfortable about singing Christmas carols in school, should you complain to the school or reassure your kids? Our experts say you can do both. You might speak with the principal of the school about broadening the holiday song repertoire to include singing Hanukkah songs. That way, your child would be singing both Christmas and Hanukkah songs, as would the other kids. You can also reassure your children that singing the Christmas holiday songs doesn't make them Christian, nor does enjoying those songs. It is okay to enjoy other people's holidays, as long as your kids are clear what their holidays are. Reprinted with permission from www.InterfaithFamily.com. Visit their website for more great tips, information on the December holidays and all topics related to interfaith families. | ||||
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Materials: · 8 empty cardboard cylinders from rolls of toilet paper · 1 empty cardboard cylinder from a roll of paper towels · Masking or scotch tape · Yellow and orange tissue paper · Tempera paint, brushes and water · Magic markers Directions: 1. Take 8 empty rolls of cardboard toilet paper and 1 empty roll of paper towels. 2. Use adhesive tape to stick four toilet paper rolls together, side-by-side. 3. Tape on the paper towel roll. 4. Tape the remaining four toilet paper rolls together, side-by-side - you'll have nine rolls in a row, with the paper towel roll in the middle. 5. Paint or use magic markers to color the menorah. 6. Scrunch up the tissue paper a little and place inside each toilet paper roll. Repeat until all the rolls have become candles (or you can have them add a "flame" each night of Hanukkah). | ||
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There are many
recipes for potato latkes - Try this one from www.letsallcook.com.
(Makes 12 to 16 latkes) Ingredients: 1 lb potatoes, baking variety is best 1/2 onion, peeled and coarsely grated 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1 tablespoon all- purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt Freshly ground black pepper Canola oil for frying Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 250°F. 2. Peel potatoes and coarsely grate by hand, transferring to a large bowl of cold water as grated. Soak potatoes 1 to 2 minutes after last batch is added to water, then drain well in a colander. 3. Spread grated potatoes and onion on a kitchen towel and roll up jelly-roll style. Twist towel tightly to wring out as much liquid as possible. 4. In a large bowl, mix the egg with the flour, salt and pepper. 5. Add the potato and onion mixture to the bowl and mix well. 6. Heat 1/2 cup oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. 7. Working in batches of 4 latkes, spoon 2 tablespoons potato mixture per latke into skillet, spreading into 3-inch rounds with a fork. 8. Reduce heat to moderate and cook until undersides are browned, about 5 minutes. Turn latkes over and cook until undersides are browned, about 5 minutes more. 9. Transfer to paper towels to drain and season with salt. Add more oil to skillet as needed. Keep latkes warm on a wire rack set in a shallow baking pan in oven. | ||
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My husband, Owen, and
I have been married for 18 years. Although Owen agreed before we were
married that we would raise our children Jewish, what that has meant in
daily life has been a work in progress. We have learned to discuss what
traditions we want to have rather than to focus on what "everyone else"
does or doesn't do. When questions come up about holiday celebrations at
school or Christmas decorations on the common, we explain that the
majority of people in our town do observe Christmas and it makes sense
that they want to share their joy. We always invite Christian friends over
during Chanukah to enjoy lighting candles and eating latkes. Now as the
kids are older, we talk about democracy and separation of church and state
- but we also help out at the Cub Scouts Breakfast with Santa - because it
raises money for a good cause. If you come to our house on Christmas, you
will see a Christmas tree. For us, it's about creating a welcoming
environment for Owen's family and enjoying his childhood memories. This is
an ongoing conversation all year round. We attend the town's Interfaith
Service for Thanksgiving and Martin Luther King Day. We go to services at
least once or twice a month at the Temple and light candles and say
blessings most Shabbat evenings. The key is the same as everything else in
marriage and parenting - open communication. We are building our Jewish
home with examples every day, not just one day a year. - Melissa
Folsom, mother of Emma and Jacob
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Kulanu CONNECTIONS is
an informal group providing social opportunities for women living along
the "495 belt" who are looking to make Jewish connections. Kulanu
CONNECTIONS focuses on building relationships as part of the larger Jewish
community. Events are for women, couples, and families. To be added to the
e-vite list contact Natalie Robinson at nataliedrobinson@comcast.net
or 508- 541-8895.
SOMETHING NEW: Sign up for the Kulanu Connections listserve! Kulanu Connections has its own email listserve group, an informal way for Jewish women in our area to connect to one another. This listserve makes informal communication easier and allows Kulanu participants to share information and ask each other questions, such as "Where can I find Hanukkah candles in Franklin?" It will also facilitate gatherings of mothers in the group, such as "I am interested in forming a playgroup on Mondays for 3-4 year olds, please contact me if you are interested." or "I'm going to story time at the library in Bellingham tomorrow; come join me!" This is an "add-on" feature to the CONNECTIONS group - You have to sign up separately to be part of the listserve. If you received this Jewish Partners in Parenting newsletter, you will continue to receive regular Kulanu CONNECTIONS communications (e-mails and e-vites) about scheduled events and general information. TO JOIN THE LIST-SERVE: Just send your e mail address to kulanumail@gmail.com and you will be added to the list. If at any time, you want to stop receiving e-mails, just send a message and you will be taken off the list. | ||
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Jewish Family Service
of Metrowest and the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston are coming
together to bring PJ Library to 1500 families in the greater Boston area!
PJ Library is available to families with young children to introduce
Jewish concepts and holidays into Jewish homes - homes that foster
children's curiosity about their heritage and help families explore their
Jewish identity through Jewish books and other media. When you register,
your child (aged birth to 6 years) will receive a free high-quality Jewish
children's book or CD every month for one year. Each book comes with
resources to help you use that month's selection in your home. If you want
to continue your child's subscription after the first year, it only costs
$18. To sign up for PJ Library, please go to www.pjlibrary.org
and check Metrowest on the registration form.
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It's a Miracle!
A Hanukkah Storybook
By Stephanie Spinner Illustrated by Jill McElmurry For ages 4-7 "Ready for a story?" Grandma Karen asked. "Definitely," said Owen. Every night of Hanukkah, after Owen, the Official Candle Lighter, lights the menorah, Grandma Karen kicks off her cowboy boots and tells him a bedtime story. Join Owen in discovering how each of these stories is also a celebration of Jewish heritage in this heartwarming book about faith, family, and the miracle of Hanukkah. | ||
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TEMPLE BETH
TORAH
December 14 Small World Shabbat 6:30 -7:30 pm December 21 Ruach Shabbat 7:45 - 8:45 pm (An informal Shabbat service with guitar music and participatory singing for all ages) January 13 Ruach Shabbat 7:45-8:45 pm January 13 Beth Torah Tots For more information contact Michele Winn at thefourwinns@comcast.net. TEMPLE ETZ CHAIM December 8 Tot Shabbat and Early Childhood Hanukkah Party 9:00 am December 21 Tot Shabbat 6:30 pm For more information, contact Kimberly Cohen at kimberlycohen@comcast.net. Community Events December 6 7:00 pm MetroWest Jewish Community Book Fair at the MetroWest Jewish Day School The Metrowest JCC presents A Parenting Program with Barbara Meltz, award-winning journalist and writer of the "Child Caring" column which appears weekly in the Boston Globe. Barbara tackles the real-life issues that parents deal with everyday. She will focus on "Raising Children in a Scary World." $5/JCC members and MWJDS parents; $7/guests. December 12 MetroWest Jewish Day School Hanukkah Party 1:30 pm - $5 suggested donation per family January 13 Metrowest Jewish Day School Maccabees Alef Bet and Bagel 9:30 am - for children ages 4 and 5 January 16 Metrowest Jewish Day School Whimsical Wednesdays Tu B'Shvat 9:45 am - for children 18 months - 3 years | ||
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Jewish Family Service
of Metrowest
475 Franklin Street Framingham, MA 01702 508-875-3100 www.jfsmw.org Strengthening Lives, Building Community JFS/MW is your non-profit agency providing social and community services throughout the life cycle for people of all ages, faiths, and backgrounds. Temple Etz Chaim 900 Washington Street Franklin, MA 02038 508-528-5337 www.temple-etzchaim.org Temple Beth Torah 2162 Washington Street Holliston, MA 01746 (508) 429-6268 www.bethtorah.org www.interfaithfamily.com Charles River Hadassah www.charlesriver.hadassah.org MetroWest Jewish Day School 29 Upper Joclyn Avenue Framingham, MA 01701 508-620-5554 www.mwjds.org Metrowest JCC 29 Upper Joclyn Avenue Framingham, MA 01701 Phone: 508-879-3300 www.jccgb.org | ||
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The December holidays should be as joyous for us as
it is for our children. The very reason we celebrate Hanukkah is because
the Maccabees fought against the oppression of Jews. While there are
opportunities all year to teach the value of religious freedom to our
children, December is a special time when our children can teach us. So
make your family traditions special -play the dreidel game and make
latkes- and at the same time appreciate the interfaith world in which we
live
Sincerely,
 Malka Young and Mindee Meltzer Jewish Family Service of Metrowest email: myoung@jfsmw.org
phone: 508-875-3100
web: http://www.jfsmw.org |
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