The Jewish New Year
September 29, 2011 at 7:35 am | Posted in Family Ties | Leave a commentTags: cultural values, family tradition, Jewish New Year, observing the Jewish holidays, religious wedding ceremonies
L’Shana Tova! Or, Happy New Year to my fellow Jews! It’s a new year, and the start of the high holy days in Judaism, rounding out in a couple weeks with Yom Kippur. For my family, it’s one of the few holidays we still get together for and observe in some way — at this point it’s really just about the food. My parents may go to temple to atone for their sins, and some family members may fast, but beyond that, the holidays have become an excuse to get together over a nice loaf of challah, and I’m okay with that.
I’ve spoken in the past about my exposure to the Jewish religion — Hebrew school, temple, Bat-Mitzvah, prayers, the works, but once I turned 13, I went to temple less and less. Same goes for my parents. So as I observe this High Holy Day season with my nephew for the first time, I wonder if I will ever reach a point where I feel like I need to reconnect to my religion.
To be honest, in reality I don’t see that happening. I have a strong respect for the culture and the religion, but it doesn’t impact the way I live my life and I can’t imagine letting it. But I can’t predict the future. What happens when I have kids? I’ve been asked many times, especially since I am marrying a non-Jew, what religion I would raise my kids. My answer? They will get the culture from both sides and if the child/children decide later on that religion is for them, then that’s their choice. I will not impose an expensive religious education on an uninterested child.
This question of religion has also come up in relation to my wedding — will I have a priest or will I have a rabbi perform the ceremony? A priest was out, per my fiance’s request, and for a while I said that I would have a rabbi, because I knew it would mean a lot to my parents. Now that I am starting the planning and thinking about all of this as a reality, I’m not sure that I am going to go that way anymore. My latest thought and idea from other brides I know in a similar situation — get an officiant who will incorporate whatever traditions from both side that we want.
Because to me, I value tradition. I value family. I value history. I take pride in being part of the oldest religion — one than endured unspeakable persecution and has continued to flourish, to create, to build, in the face of resistance. I won’t forget the stories, and I will pass them on to my children. That’s the part that matters to me.
Peanut Butter for the First Time
September 27, 2011 at 7:36 am | Posted in Playing with Food | Leave a commentTags: bagels in new york, churros in Barcelona, clam chowder in boston, diet, food tourism, jello, lobster in maine, peanut butter, trying foods for the first time
My nephew is now 6 months old and beginning to add different foods to his diet. It’s an interesting practice that I don’t normally think about — being introduced to new foods. And what’s even more interesting is that you can spend your whole life trying new foods, if you want to.
At some point, your parents stop being the ones in charge of what your diet includes, though they may continue to influence the decisions you make. Not for me, though. I am much more adventurous than my parents, but they never limited me. Sure I didn’t eat ham until I was maybe a teen, but that was just something my family didn’t eat. We were a bologna and cheese kind of family. Rye bread and tuna. Bagels and cream cheese.
I do, however, have a good friend, whose parents were fresh of the boat Italian, whose eating habits were so closely connected to their culture that she never had peanut butter or jello growing up — SERIOUSLY. I mean, there are people who don’t like to try new foods, and then there are apparently people who haven’t eaten foods that many Americans would consider pantry staples and lunch box requirements. No, this girl’s lunch likely consisted of macaroni and maybe some broccoli rabe — hard to believe since she is so skinny, but this is true.
It’s not that I was always adventurous with food. As you get older, your taste buds mature, and for me, my curiosity just continues to grow. I have to try everything. I had to have that fried Twinkie in Denver, and a cooked artichoke in Santa Cruz. I had to have clam chowder in Boston, lobster in Maine, and crab cakes in Maryland. I had to have risotto in Italy and churros in Barcelona. And it doesn’t stop with foods cities are known for. I have to try all the chains that you can’t find everywhere. I had to have Sonic in North Carolina and Carl’s Jr in San Francisco.
My adventures with food aren’t limited to tourism. I watch the Food Network religiously — the fiance can attest to that — and am constantly experimenting in the kitchen with different techniques and combinations.
I can’t imagine not exploring food. There is so much out there! For my friend who never had peanut butter growing up, I don’t know if she ever has, or ever will, but if she does, I hope I’m there to witness it (and subsequently post it to YouTube).
Closure
September 22, 2011 at 7:36 am | Posted in Friends Then and Now, Relationship Woes | 2 CommentsTags: break ups, closure, moving on, satisfaction
The saying goes, “when one door closes, another one opens.” What the saying doesn’t cover is what happens when that first door never fully closes.
Closure — so elusive. We all seek it sometimes, typically following a serious break up. But closure is more than just something we think we need to move on. Closure is also about satisfaction and regret.
Closure is about saying the things you never had a chance to say, or wishing you could take back the things you did say or do. Closure isn’t always about closing a door. You can and often do move on from situations unsatisfied with the outcome, sometimes for years. Because life doesn’t stop just because you didn’t get closure. Some things you just have to let go and let time take over. Time allows for personal growth and a new perspective.
And sometimes, years later, you get an opportunity to go back and make things “right.” And sometimes, you get that blast from the past and realize that, even though things didn’t turn out the way you wanted with someone, you are happy for him/her, and you are happy with the memories you have of each other, of the time you had together. But a lot of times, you don’t get that opportunity.
Because you learn from it all, even if you don’t get closure. Life isn’t about being satisfied 100% of the time. Life isn’t perfect. All we can do is reflect on what we have experienced and keep on searching for open doors.
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