Chanukah @ MindSay

Yesterday at work I was overhearing one of my colleagues on the phone with a friend talk about her daughter's school.  Apparently she was miffed because "Christmas landed at John Doe Elementary" right before Thanksgiving.  There were Christmas themed bulletin boards in the hallways, a tree in the classroom, and in the school library, each kid was asked to bring in a white teddy bear.  My colleagues daughter brought in a Chanukah bear, but took the Chanukah shirt off the bear because it was supposed to be non-denominational.  What did they do with all these bears?  They made a big tree of bears in the school library (some of whom apparently still had "Christian things" on them.).  I was laughing to myself when my first thought while listening to her was "Thank goodness we don't have to deal with that at our school this year..."

We spoke further after she got off the phone.  We were laughing as I told her my thought, and she said she had thought the same thing ("Well at least socKs doesn't have to deal with that at her kid's Jewish day school...")  So we talked about it some more.

Apparently her issue is not with Christmas - she can admire the beauty of the season and the decorations as much as the next guy.  Her issue is with the inequity in the displays and lack of sensitivity towards other religions.  Apparently there is a child in her daughter's class who is a Jehovah's Witness.  Therefore, the decision was made that there would be no birthday celebrations in the classroom out of respect for that student's beliefs.  While it would have been difficult to not have any decorations in the entire school (and I would assume that Witnesses are so used to being around public displays of holiday decorations given that they are everywhere this time of year), perhaps the teachers could have at least not had a tree in the classroom.  Her other issue was that there was no mention of Chanukah.

We talked about our past experiences with the holiday season, and what's going on this year.  Neither of us are anti-public Christmas decorations.  I don't expect every holiday display to include Chanukah stuff, although that would be nice - I'm pretty realistic.  I love seeing the twinkle lights in the trees around the city.  Our neighbor strung up lights in the huge pine tree (at least 14') that is in our community's common area between our homes.  This is the first time anyone has done it - and to quote my kid: "Wow...that's beautiful!"  I remember this neighbor saying the day he moved in: "I can't wait to put lights on that thing!"  We will put our electric menorah in our kitchen window for the neighbors to see, just like we do every year.

This reminded me of the recent seasonal display controversy at the Washington State Capitol.  A national Atheist group went through the proper channels to get a sign displayed at the capitol reflecting their views of the holiday season.  It was placed near the traditional Nativity scene.  There was also a Christmas tree.  In the past they have had a Chanukah menorah as well.  Conservative Christian groups around the country have been calling in and expressing their outrage.  I say three cheers to Washington State.  Their official statement was:  "The U.S. Supreme Court has been consistent and clear that, under the Constitution's First Amendment, once government admits one religious display or viewpoint onto public property, it may not discriminate against the content of other displays, including the viewpoints of nonbelievers." 

Equality and representation for all - isn't that what our country is all about?

"Will Santa Claus remember not to come to our house to give me presents because we don't celebrate Christmas?"

"Yes he will.  But I'll send him an email."

"OK Mommy... Thanks!"

many latkes later we sat with the cohen's in the den getting to know them, talking about places we had lived and families and work and values and it's delicious when you click with people like this right away. Jim met the husband playing tennis- he is a psychiatrist and so we invited the man and his wife to celebrate chanukah with us. and it could not have been better.

 

and they responded today with a christmas afternoon invitation- three kids a dog brothers granndmothers. and a pool table in the kitchen .  It's an honor to know that the immediate affection we felt for them is reciprocated.  

 

I went to my first ASG meeting where the slate of officers was unamimously elected ( i think they have to beg to get people on the board)   anf the meeting took place in this fabric wharehouse that was 1l5 acres of everything textile. so what if it felt like I wa straveling to the farterest ends of east portland ( I was) and I tend to stay in the hilly little funky west side where we live- but what a bonanza. and every month they have a 40% sale so I have real incentive to watch my sewing budget so I can buy amazing fabric cheaply.

 

I have warped some wild colored threads for a purple shawl and maybe tomorrow I will dress the loom and get going. teh red table runner i was going to weave turned into an amazing sweater instead and I purchased some deep red damask to make a table ruinner andplacemenats for the newly painted dining room.

 

I really love making my own table linens and before long I may start making my own sheets - I have been doing pillow cases, duvet covers and bolsters forever--- but it might be fun to o it all myself. why buy a sheet for over $50 when one can buy very wide fabric in a yummy percale and maybe add trims and monogramming?

 

Yes home sewing and art sewing is my favorite as things do not have to fit- but I do have that kilt I disassembled last year because it ws a size 4 - did i ever have hips that narrow?- and i am reworking  the fabric into a darted wrap around skirt- like the flannel one I just finished but this is a real tartan plaid.

 

at any rate I am back on the horse and doing well and  my latkes were not like bricks but not the best on earth either. The roast chicken stuffed with fennel however was amazingly moist. Thank you Fisher & Paykel. I just shove the probe in the leg, connect it to the socket inside the oven ,  turn the probe temperature to 185 and it tells me when the bird is done.  worls for any roast. Perfection is just a prick away.

Well it's official - I'm a Jewish mother. 

As you all know, this week we are celebrating Chanukah.  Candles, presents, Latkes, songs, dreidels, fun. 

When I went to pick up the boy from school last Friday, one of his teachers (who happens to be Muslim) asked me when Chanukah started.  They wanted to teach the kids about holidays other than Christmas.  So I told her the start date, and told her I'd see what we had to bring in to teach the kids about Chanukah.

On Monday, the head teacher of his class asked me if I could bring in stuff about Chanukah - a book, coloring pages, she wanted to make a food dish w/the kids.  So we brought in Av's "Blue's Clues Chanukah" book (did you know that Orange Kitten is Jewish - now you do) and suggested frozen latkes w/applesauce for the kids.  I explained that you don't pronounce the "C" in front of Chanukah (she'd never seen it spelled that way before).  Unfortunately I haven't yet had the chance get all the kid dreidels & gelt.  As one of my friends recently put it - Chanukah is awesome - food, gambling, & presents - what's not to love?

When I was the same age, and also the only Jewish kid in my preschool class, my parents asked the school if the kids would learn about holidays other than Christmas.  Even though it was a secular school, they said "Oh yes!"  So a few weeks later, they called my parents to tell them that the school's theme this year would be "Christmas around the world" but my class would be "Chanukah".  Nice.

So my parents contacted the local JCC for educational materials that would be preschool appropriate.  Someone from the JCC came in w/my parents to teach us all about Chanukah.  My parents made latkes for the class, played dreidel.  It was all good.  There was one boy in the class who was plain clueless, my father recalls that this kid just had a blank look on his face.  Until it came time to light the Chanukiah.  At that point his face lit up - he got it.  And as soon as they were done lighting the candles - he exclaimed at the top of his voice "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

What was my boy most excited about this morning?

Was it the unexpected snow flurries we had this morning?
The plan to finish building our new dining room table w/Shiny tonight?
The start of Chanukah?
The excitement of getting Chanukah presents?

Nope, nope, nope, and nope.

What does he tell the first friend he encounters at preschool this morning?

"Guess what???  I'm wearing Lightening McQueen underwear!!!"

Ah the naiveté of youth...

(I guess we really could have gotten him underwear for a present)