Elul is the Hebrew month preceding the High Holy Days. There are many traditions observed during this month including making time for personal self reflection, study and awareness of our actions towards others. This year's Elevating Elul series includes the reflections and voices of our congregants to help us come together as a community and prepare for the new year.
Elul continues! In this Elul piece, BA Member Linda Rosenblatt recalls a challenging time she experienced growing up in a community with very few other Jewish families. Though this experience took place many years ago, how much of our past do we still carry with us? What will we bring into the New Year?
It's Alright To Be Different By: Linda Rosenblatt
The first time I learned what it meant to be Jewish and different was when I was in Kindergarten. My family moved from St. Louis to a little town in northern Illinois called Ottawa. There were only five other Jewish families in this town and we moved there in August.
I loved my school and made lots of friends. When Christmas came, there was a Christmas program. After the program, the principal asked if anyone didn't have a Christmas tree. I raised my hand. He thought we must be so poor that we couldn't afford a tree so he gave me the school's tree.
I dragged that tree home three blocks!
When I got home, my mom asked me, "Why did you bring that thing home?" I told her they asked who didn't have a Christmas tree - not "why" we didn't have a tree. She took me and the tree back to the school and told them we didn't have a Christmas tree because we were Jewish, not because we couldn't afford one.
The next week I was sitting with my best friend Monica; just talking. She told me that I killed Jesus Christ - I was 5! I told her I never killed anyone and I didn't know anyone named Jesus Christ.
I went home in tears. I told my mom what Monica said to me. I was so upset. My mom sat me down and explained that she meant that the Jewish people killed Jesus, not me personally.
This happened in 1961. This is an experience that has stuck with me for 60 years. I am very proud to be Jewish. I raised my family to always be proud of our Jewish heritage.
