Dec 1st 2009, 00:00

For me, December is the strangest month of the year. On the one hand, it is a month of relaxation and celebration. With the kids off from school and with the Temple in “quiet” mode, I take a few weeks of (very needed!) vacation. We always try and spend some time out in the desert visiting my mother, lounging around in the pool, and just doing nothing. Have some time off also affords me the opportunity to catch up on those projects around the house that I just can’t get to during the rest of the busy year. December is a month of celebration because I love Chanukkah with its message of universality and religious freedom, and of course who can resist latkes! Laura and I were also married on the 26th, so as the year winds to a close, we always have something to celebrate. On the other hand, December also feels like a continual birthday party to which I have not been invited. With all the “holiday” cheer and gift buying, I can’t help but feel like a fish out of water. Our entire nation and the entire world seem to focus on one thing that is not part of me nor is something I relate to. It is the only time of year that my Americanism and my Judaism are not aligned one in the same. Now one solution could be to give in and to participate in the holiday activities. After all, it is the end of the year, a time to thank employees and friends, and to send well wishes for a happy new year. Everyone loves getting presents, and it is fun to shop and surprise someone with a nice gift. I’d like to be able to do all these things, but I just can’t. So, I am resigned to observing all the craziness and celebration from afar. For those who own small business and those who work for large corporations, this is a very important and critical month for the bottom line. Especially in the current economic climate, the next few weeks may determine whether or not certain workers keep their jobs, whether or not a business stays open, whether or not millions will be able to afford their homes and cars. It is unfortunate that our country’s economic stability and success is riding on the willingness of the consumer to often times spend far beyond their means. For those who have money to spend, there is nothing wrong with spending. But report after report details the credit woes of the average America and how millions spend far beyond their means, racking up even more credit card debt, which far too many fail to ever pay back. Judaism of course guides us to live within our means. Pirkei Avot teaches that the one who is rich is the one who is content with their lot. We also know that the greatest gifts are those that have no price: the gift of a smile, the gift of a visit to one who is lonely, the gift of compassion and empathy, the gift of your presence when one has lost a loved one, the gift of knowledge, the gift of honesty and integrity. These gifts cost us nothing but are invaluable and priceless. I know the cliché that on December 25th all Jews go to the movies and then go out for Chinese food. After all, what else is open? We have always done our best to integrate and assimilate and we have contributed to the fabric of American life far beyond our numbers. Yet there is no escaping the fact that the main focus of this month is not for us. We are a minority and will always be a minority. For some, this is not something they wish to be reminded of, and so they assimilate further. For others, it’s not an issue at all as they tend to just ignore the world around them. Whether we struggle with these issues or not, we know, of course, that “this too shall pass,” and that January is just around the corner. I hope you all have a very happy Chanukkah and a very enjoyable and safe New Year. Don’t forget that God’s house is here in the synagogue, not at the mall, so we’ll be open too for regular business hours throughout the month, just like always!