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We Share So Much
Several days ago, a dear friend asked me if there was anything meaningful to me about Christmas; she asked with hesitation, since she’s Catholic and knows I’m Jewish and we are close friends. I took my time answering her, wanting to be respectful and loving in my response. And so I said, of course: we all want peace and goodwill at this time of year.
In fact, this year as Christians and Jews, secular and religious, we share more in common than we have differences. When we have losses, we all feel pain and desolation; when others have losses, we remind them that we love and care for them. We all want people to be safe from disease and difficulties. We all want to have joy in our lives, healthy and happy families, warm friendships, and lives of meaning.
We share some of the same aspirations: to learn something new, to explore a new environ, to walk freely without limitations. We want to be free of fear, where we can see each other smile and give each other hugs (except for those of you who don’t do hugs). We even share some of the same frustrations: locked up in our homes, locked out of our churches, many of us pray for each other. We know what it feels like to be isolated and distant. And we aspire to the time when we will be free to be together again.
For Jews and Christians, we share a history, a biblical source that binds us together. Even for those who aren’t religious, we all share the Judeo-Christian ethic of America. We are free to pray, contemplate, meditate, and dream in our own way, and we share the same G-d, who we want to realize is always there for us. Those beliefs and that sense of spirit weave a comforting web of love and humility around us, reminding us that we are never alone.
So at a time when people talk about differences, polarization, and chasms that limit understanding and well-being, at some level, we all know that we are interconnected.
We are all part of the vulnerable, yet resilient, human race.
We are, after all, created in G-d’s image.
Published in Religion & Philosophy
Some Christians forget and some Jews also that Jesus , Joseph and Mary and all the Apostles were Jews. Maybe the ceremony and rituals of the practice of the two religions are different but the many of the basic Philosophies are not. Merry Christmas and a Happier New Year Susan.
Yes, PHCheese, in fact early on, Christians were expected to practice as Jews.
Yep, we consider the ancient Jews to be ancestors of a sort. Y’all are family, whether you like it or not!
It’s nice that your Festival of Lights coincides with ours, though Passover might be the holy day we most share.
I will wish you Merry Christmas today. You may wish me Happy Hanukkah or whatever you like. Sticks and stones can break my bones, but blessings never hurt me. ;)
Merry Christmas and many blessings, Aaron!!
Indeed.
BTW my real name if you can believe it isn’t Cheese it’s Joseph and yes I love carpentry but you can call me Joe Cheese if you like.
Well, my Jewish wife made a heck of a Christmas Eve dinner last night and I’m smelling a pretty good Christmas Day dinner right now. How’s that for Jews and Christians binding together? ;)
Perfect! Over food, no less!
It was a recurring family name on my mother’s paternal side; I don’t remember for certain, but it might be traceable to the Jewish haberdasher who helped get them back on their feet after they lost everything in the wake of the Civil War.
That’s a lovely story, lowtech redneck, whether it’s true or not. To be able to note the generosity of others is a blessing. Thanks.
This song by Gloria Gaither fits beautifully with the theme of this post. Whether you are religious or not, I hope it touches you as it touches me:
@lowtech-redneck reminded me to take another look at a book left to me from my relatives in Danielsville, Madison County, Georgia, Historical Sketches, Presbyterian Churches and Early Settlers in Northeast Georgia by Groves Harrison Cartledge. Lots of heart-warming or otherwise intriguing stories including many of my relatives and direct ancestors who settled or were born there. My second great-grandfather Thompson was off to the Peninsula Campaign and didn’t make it back. My grandfather Thompson had a sawmill and made cedar furniture, a piece for each family member when I was growing up. Lots of churches and families named in that book. PM me if I can see if there is anything that might connect for you.
No, they weren’t. This was rejected resoundingly by the Apostle Paul, and confirmed at the first Church Council in Jerusalem. Those insisting that Christians continue to practice Judaism were rejected as false teachers.
Bit of trivia: the music is from a tune called “Finlandia” by Jean Sibelius. Some beautiful old hymns have been set to it in addition to Gloria Gaither’s wonderful words.
As I understand it, Christians who were Jews were free to practice as Jews but gentiles from paganism coming to Christianity were not required to become Jews. I don’t believe there was any mandate one way or the other. Jewish Christians were free to continue to practice Judaism along side their new Christian practices, or not. In time and generations the Jewish practices fell away. Pagans I believe had to reject their pagan practices but did not have to become Jews or practice Jewish customs.