Comments (0)September Insider
September 2009
Dear Reader,
Growing up, I can recall the warm memories I have celebrating the Jewish holidays. There was Sukkot, where we got to eat a special treat — petit fours in the synagogue sukkah — and Simchat Torah, where I joined my friends, waving Israeli flags and parading around the synagogue. That was followed by hours of dancing with my peers in the reception hall.
As the year progressed, I bought trees in Israel during Tu B’Shevat and dressed up as Queen Esther for Purim; and who can forget the annual carnival, where I played a host of games, including the perennial favorite — throwing a ping pong ball into a bowl of water and winning a poor goldfish.
Yet, as I got older and took off for college and then entered the workforce, a number of these holidays became a passing date on the calendar. I always celebrated Passover; however, I just didn’t have time to hear the Megillah read on Purim.
It wasn’t until I had young children of my own that the tradition of the holidays once again became instrumental in my life. When my kids began attending Jewish preschool, I began to return to my roots. At the same time, I also started a number of new traditions with my family. We began gathering at friends’ sukkot, a week of parties for my children, and exchanging shaloch manot, Purim gift baskets. I even learned about the Tu B’Shevat Seder.
In some ways, I think, my path mimics many in the Jewish community. As young children, we enjoy the rituals of the Jewish holidays, but these start to fade as our lives get busy. It is when we have children ourselves that we come full circle.
This month, as Rosh Hashanah approaches, in “How Jewish?,” iNSIDER takes a look at how vital Judaism is to our lives, asking singles, young marrieds and those with young children about their involvement.
In addition, in reflecting on Judaism, we ask the question — is there such a thing as Jewish literature? Renowned Jewish author Dara Horn discusses this topic.
Finally, with the new year, we are adding a new feature to our publication. Each month, preschool teachers from around the community will create a meaningful Jewish craft that families can make at home. This month, Freda Dale-Cohen, preschool teacher at Goldsmith Early Childhood Education Center, offers a fun lesson on apples, followed by an apple-making Rosh Hashanah card project. The directions can be found online on our iNSIDER pages.
We hope you all have a sweet, healthy and happy new year.
Sincerely,
Rochelle Eisenberg
Editor
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