Russian Tea Cookies
Or, renewing the American dream!
The following is a reflection by Gil R. about his heritage and spiritual journey.
I’ve spent many years repeating traditions that are deeply engrained in my consciousness. I’ve done shabbat dinners with adults arguing politics over schnitzel for as long as I can remember. The schnitzel and the arguments haven’t changed much.
As we approach the holiday season, I start anticipating the latkes sufganiot and the memory of my father singing Chanukah songs. This was his holiday. He was born on the first day of Chanukah, December 25th, 1940. He always celebrated his birthday twice: once on Chanukah and another time on Christmas.
As my life has transformed, I have opened myself up to new traditions and lessons. I was brought up with in an insular Israeli, Jewish perspective: Jews are chosen and are thus correct, while the rest of the world are the Goyim and by definition wrong. The rabbit hole is deep and the lessons vast. My narrow-minded perspective was the result of many historical dynamics that were set into motion long before I was born. As a thinking adult, who lives in a tradition that values questioning as the very essence of spiritual growth, I am permitted to question the perspective into which I was born — it was and is wrong.
As we enter this holiday season, I can reflect on the broad traditions of humanity, glean wisdom, and incorporate it in to my Jewish perspective without repercussions. Judaism has incorporated vast tradition unto itself, and yet it remains true to the vastness of the infinite expression.
I was at an amazing event the other night hosted by The Sanctuaries. There were young, multi-religious, ethnically diverse people embodying the multiplicity of spiritual expression — truly an American Dream in the Heart of our nation’s capitol. I was a proud Jew listening to Lutheran and Catholic prayer in preparation of the Season of advent, and singing “oh come Emanuel” in anticipation of Jesus, while eating Russian tea cookies. This was followed by a rainbow of Americans singing “Eine ma tov uma Naim Shevet Achim Gam yachd.”
How good to be a tribe of siblings sitting together — God Bless America!
