MIssing the Holidays
So clarkmoe made a post about getting a special family drink recipe. Apparently it is some sort of holiday tradition in her fam, which is pretty cool. It made me think about all the nice customs I had in college for different times of year, in regard to holidays and such. I'm going to miss the Chevy Chase Ballroom Christmas Party. No one in Israel makes eggnog, so no eggnog for me this year. It's funny, only once a year, it is actually quite good, especially since I wasn't raised on the stuff. Christmas time in college was actually good times, because it meant peppermint mochas and CCB Christmas party and by the time you actually get to the holiday, everyone is gone. Plus you get Hanukkah with your friends because it usually occurs before everyone goes away. So people have the joy of the "holiday season" without being stuck in your dorm room all alone with everything closed for a non-Jewish holiday.
Also, during Ramadan I was upset that I didn't get to break a fast with those observing. Every year my school had a joint Jewish Student Assoc/Muslim Student Assoc breakfast. Plus there was a day where money went to charity for all the non-Muslims who fasted. Clearly here it is a different world in terms of doing something like that, but it was such a great thing to do every year. If and when I get to be a rabbi, I definitely want to have joint break-fasts, especially when Jewish fast days coincide with Ramadan, which is reasonably often.
Also, during Ramadan I was upset that I didn't get to break a fast with those observing. Every year my school had a joint Jewish Student Assoc/Muslim Student Assoc breakfast. Plus there was a day where money went to charity for all the non-Muslims who fasted. Clearly here it is a different world in terms of doing something like that, but it was such a great thing to do every year. If and when I get to be a rabbi, I definitely want to have joint break-fasts, especially when Jewish fast days coincide with Ramadan, which is reasonably often.