Kwanzaa's Kawaida: For all year round

Kwanzaa Kinara
Drawing by Nesnad

Most cultural holidays are also ethical ones, in that they embrace a code to live by.  Kwanzaa, the African-American and Pan-American holiday, embraces the ethical code of Kawaida. 

Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa's founder, describes Kawaida as a philosophy that reflects Afrocentric tradition.  However, philosophy for philosophy's sake is not what Karenga has been about.  Kawaida is therefore a very active philosophy that focuses upon self-reflective and self-corrective practices.

That is why a Day of Assessment (aka "Day of Meditation") has been a culminating part of the Kwanzaa celebration.  On this day, three core questions are grappled with:  Who am I?  Am I really who I say I am?  Am I all I ought to be?

This is also a day for concentrating upon the wisdom of The Odu Ifa meditation, which reads as follows:  Let us not engage the world hurriedly.  Let us not grasp at the rope of wealth impatiently.  That which should be treated with mature judgment, let us not deal with in a state of anger.  When we arrive at a cool place, let us rest fully.  Let us give continuous attention to the future, and let us give deep consideration to the consequences of things.  And this because of our (eventual) passing.

Such wisdom can then be nurtured throughout the entire year.

Resources

https://celebrationjoy.com/kwanzaa-odu-ifa-meditation

Why Jews are named Alexander

From the Alexander Mosaic

Some say that Alexander was great because of the length and width of his empire.  Jews say he was great because of its depth.

Alexander III of Macedon was a profound thinker.  It didn't hurt him any to have Aristotle (Maimonides' hero) as his personal tutor.

When Alexander conquered Tyre and Egypt via the Holy Land, he made it a point to visit with the High Priest of the Jerusalem Temple.  This visit is recorded by the Jewish historian Josephus, as well as in the Talmud.

Upon meeting the High Priest, Alexander is said to have immediately dismounted and bowed to him.  This induced General Parmenio to (boldly) ask Alexander for an explanation.  Alexander then answered: "I did not bow before him, but before that God who has honored him with the High Priesthood - for I saw this very person in a dream, in this very apparel."

Nevertheless, Alexander had the habit of putting effigies of himself within his conquered people's temples.  This did not sit well with the Jews.  They therefore offered a clever alternative - that of naming their children Alexander.  The idea stuck.  Thousands of years later, Jews are still being named Alexander.  

Resources

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ajs-review/article/abs/alexander-the-great-and-jaddus-the-high-priest-according-to-josephus/8ED923F6BCA859439FDF063D2C4CD12B

Frosty the Snowman: One cool fool

Fair Use

Whether he's thumbing his button nose at cops, or thumpety-thumping all over town, Frosty the Snowman is one cool fool.  We say that, of course, with the utmost respect.  "The Fool" has been around for ages, and plays essential roles in the drama we call life.

This archetype has three major functions: to make people laugh, to reflect wisdom, and to shake things up.  Frosty outwardly "was a jolly happy soul" who "could laugh and play just the same as you and me."  He tapped into the universal inner child.

But Frosty was not just about fun and games.  He was also quite capable of tear-jerking farewells.  Let's just say he did not go gentle into that good night.  Yet the grief concerning his impending doom was masked by megawatts of merriment.

"The Fool" has traditionally symbolized a creativity that is unencumbered by society's rules.  An historical example of this would be King Henry VIII's court jester, William Sommers.  Mr. Sommers was privy to all the inner working of Henry's court, and was allowed to comment upon them in ways that others were beheaded for.

Frosty's own version was to announce: "I'll be back again some day."  Now there's a theological show-stopper!  Some (with much too much time on their hands) are wondering whether he was hinting at reincarnation.  Or perhaps suffering from a Messiah complex?  The debate rages on, yet most can agree that this particular snowman was one cool fool.    

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jester

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Long Shot

Fair Use

If reindeer roamed the Holy Land, Rudolph would have been prime parable material.

Rudolph was the proverbial "meek" and "last" - not by nature, but by comparison.  It's not that his neon nose wasn't worthy, it's simply that it was different from all the other reindeer noses.  This was enough to brand him as a perennial outcast among peers.

Rudolph therefore needed saving - not because he was bad, but because he was good in a way that others couldn't understand or appreciate.  It took a saint (Nick) to really see the (glowing red) light.

As the original song goes, Santa moved Rudolph to the head of the class and suddenly the reindeer were proclaiming his place in history.  The story quickly ends on a high note.  Rudolph's happy, Santa's happy, even the reindeer are happy.  Yet that type of happiness hinges upon fame and success, both of which seem far more precarious than joyful.

If God were tweaking this story, it might have evolved differently.  Santa would have seen Rudolph's innate charisma and moved him up front.  The other reindeer might then have trampled Rudolph while trying to outpace him.  They might never have accepted the illumination that he offered so freely.

Which begs the question: When the last really do become first, will we simply go on singing Rudolph's martyred praises, or will we collectively follow his lead to create an eternally happier ending?

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolph_the_Red-Nosed_Reindeer

O Tannenbaum: Pleas for trees

Silver Fir   
Photo by Alburi di Corsica

This German carol, the melody of which dates back to the 16th century, can be translated to essentially mean: "Oh fir tree, you please me very much because you're loyally green" - thus providing hope, durability, comfort and strength at any time.

How ironic that we currently address this song to freshly-cut (killed) trees that we nevertheless call "live" and/or "evergreen."

There are kinder, gentler ways...

Some folks have taken to decorating outdoor trees.  There is no standard technique, but here's one: work with a tree that's reasonably close to an electric outlet, then toss strands of lights up into the branches.  For a less random approach, use a long pole with a hooked end.  A broom handle with a makeshift wire-hanger hook might suffice.  For an over-the-top solution, try renting a bucket truck, along with a driver who knows exactly how to operate it safely!

Other folks have taken to purchasing living "Tannenbaums."  These trees are specially grown with their roots either potted, or balled and burlapped.  They are brought into the home during the Christmas season, and afterwards planted outdoors.  Specific instructions are given for transitioning them from home to yard.

If enough people begin dreaming of an evergreen Christmas, then the joy that Tannenbaum brings will not be kicked to the curb come January.

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Tannenbaum   

Here's the church, here's the steeple: Where's all the people?

Sermon on the Mount   
1877 Painting by Carl Bloch

This question is often asked by those who see "church" and "people" as two different entities.  These are often the very same folks who track membership stats and empty pews.

A good place to start when addressing such concerns is the following question: What is the church?

Merriam-Webster lists a number of definitions, the first of which is this: "a building for public and especially Christian worship."  Next one down is not much broader in scope: "the clergy or officialdom of a religious body."  It isn't until the third definition that we get at the heart of the matter: "a body or organization of religious believers, such as the whole body of Christians."

The latter definition is more in keeping with the Greek word ekklesia.  This term was widely used by secular Greeks to indicate "a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place."  In the Septuagint (Ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible), ekklesia more specifically referred to the gathering of Israelites for either a specific purpose or as representatives of the nation.

The early Christian community then reframed this concept of ekklesia into "an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting," as well as "the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth," and even "the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven."  Such definitions include individual and congregate believers who are located pretty much anywhere (on or beyond Planet Earth).

When "church" is synonymous with believers rather than buildings, the emphasis then shifts from capital to communal.  At that point, doors can open wide to receive additional Light.  

Resources

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/church

https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/ekklesia.html

If you celebrate Hanukkah, thank a Greek

Hanukkah in Berlin
December 2019

Slowly assimilating people into a different way of life can be far more effective than using brute force.  The Ancient Greeks knew this.  That is why they often welcomed Jews into their midst.  A mutual admiration then developed.

The two cultures certainly had their discrepancies.  It is said that the Greeks worshipped the holiness of beauty, whereas the Jews worshipped the beauty of holiness.

Yet some Jews became quite Hellenistic in their preferences.  They readily embraced Greek fashion, philosophy, art and language.  In return, the Greeks were said to have ordered 70 rabbinic scholars to translate the Hebrew Bible into Greek (resulting in the Septuagint, aka "Translation of the Seventy").

Not all Jews were on board with this.  Some became quite alarmed, fearing the ultimate disappearance of a distinct Jewish identity.  Pressure began to mount between Jews who favored assimilation and those who didn't.

By this time, Alexander the Great had died and his empire was breaking up.  The Jews ended up with a king who became less and less patient with their internal tension.  Antiochus Epiphanes finally decided that tolerance was no longer the way to proceed.  He instead began to brutally force all Jews into a Hellenistic lifestyle.

History tells us (over and over again) that coercion is not a lasting solution.  In this case, it led to the Maccabean Revolt that we honor as Hanukkah.  Yet historical tensions remain strong.  Some still thank the Greeks for their wisdom and tolerance, while others still thank Antiochus Epiphanes for instigating a rebellion against assimilation.  Whether one applauds or condemns it, the Hellenistic influence on Judaism has endured throughout the ages.

Resources

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/hanukkah

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah

What do you mean they're all Jewish?

Elvis Presley's Parents

Elvis Presley, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Christopher Columbus - all Jewish?  Well, I'll be the Queen of England!

Maybe she's Jewish too, according to some esteemed sources.  On account of the "fact" that King David was her great, Great, GREAT ancestor...

At least Elvis flaunted it (along with much else).  He was known to have worn the Jewish chai symbol, and to have put a Jewish Star of David on his mother's headstone.  Columbus, on the other hand, went around bragging that he was Christ's gift to the "heathen" world.  And Ahmadinejad...  Need I say more?

So how is it that they're all being called Jewish?

Perhaps it has something to do with the "once a Jew, always a Jew" rule book, which is especially studied by Jews with a sense of humor (see Adam Sandler), and non-Jews with a sense of genocide.

Catholics who vacation in the Galapagos Islands and come back confirmed Darwinians are no longer necessarily called "Catholics."  Hindus who are struck blind by visions of Jesus on the road to New Delhi are no longer necessarily called "Hindus."  But people whose families converted (willingly or Inquisition style) to markedly different religions generations ago are still being deemed "Jews" today.  And people who may have had one Jewish ancestor among dozens are also being given the "Aha! So that's who (what) you really are" treatment.

Yet according to the Torah of Moses, Judaism involves a whole lot more than genetics.  Try reviewing the Ten Commandments, and if still not convinced, scroll through the other 600 or so mitzvot.

Resources

https://www.thejc.com/life-and-culture/all/uh-huh-elvis-was-a-nice-jewish-boy-6jfiuqs8VLSD32PZ5Ti8xn

https://www.cnn.com/2012/05/20/opinion/garcia-columbus-jewish/index.html

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2158244013508960#:~:text=The%20inescapable%20conclusion%20is%20that,not%20have%20her%20sons%20circumcised.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2009/10/06/does-mahmoud-ahmadinejad-have-jewish-roots/

The Amish: Christmas in three-part harmony

Amish Schoolchildren
Photo by Gadjoboy2

While some just dream of Christmas past, the Amish are still purposefully there.  You probably won't see them at the mall - and if you do, they won't be clamoring for Santa's attention.

Santa is not the main focus of an Amish Christmas.  God is.

That is why December 25th is often reserved for prayer and Bible reading.  Once God has been prioritized in these ways, the Amish are ready for Second Christmas.

December 26th is a time for home-cooked family meals, handmade gifts and cards, outdoor games, and visits with friends.  Such activities often continue well into January and February.

Epiphany, or what the Amish call "Old Christmas," is celebrated on January 6th.  This marks the traditional time that the Wise Men visited with Baby Jesus.  Many will fast until noon, then later gather for a communal meal.  Amish-staffed businesses are often closed for the day.

Resources

https://blog.peacefulvalleyfurniture.com/2015/12/lancaster-roots-amish-second-christmas/

https://www.bestofamishcountry.com/post/old-christmas

White Christmas: Ghosts and dreams

Irving Berlin, circa 1911

Back in the late 1800s, when Irving Berlin was tiny Isidore Baline, the ghosts of Christmas past bore down upon him and his Jewish family.  Christmas in Russia meant possible death for Jews since the Tsar's pogroms were particularly intense on that day.  The Balines eventually fled to America because their home had been deliberately set on fire.

That is why writing a nostalgic Christmas song was a challenging task for Berlin.  It's hard to dream when the reality had been such a nightmare.

Nevertheless, one bright morning in 1940, an already-famous Berlin burst in upon his secretary and announced, "Grab your pen and take down this song.  I just wrote the best song I've ever written... the best song that anybody's ever written!"

This was not just a hunch.  Berlin's "White Christmas" (as sung by Bing Crosby) became the best-selling single of all time.

How was Berlin able to dream his way beyond haunting Christmas memories?  For one thing, he was by then a consummate professional.  His assignment was to write a song about every major American holiday (for the movie "Holiday Inn"), and he was determined to do just that.

Berlin was also the man who wrote "God Bless America."  He was fervently patriotic, and regarded America as his family's promised land.  If Christmas was a cherished American holiday (which it especially was during World War II), then that was incentive enough for him.

Berlin's second wife (his first wife died young), Ellin Mackay, was Catholic.  Their family celebrated all the major holidays together.  Berlin seemed to have no personal conflict regarding such interfaith activities.

"White Christmas" is therefore so much more than just a cultural icon.  It remains a testament of the spirit's ability to rise on the wings of dreams above a ghastly past.

Resources

http://www.ktsullivan.com/pages/rev_berlin.html

http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/white_christmas.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irving_Berlin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Christmas_(song)

 

Holiday blues: More dreary than cheery

Photo by Thomas Bjorkan

There's a great big elephant at most holiday gatherings, and it's more blue than pink.  Most people would rather pretend that it doesn't exist than tend to its needs.

Karl Jung wasn't most people.

He talked about the shadow personality, and said that everybody has one.  The shadow includes feelings such as anger, sadness and fear.  Not exactly a recipe for happy, merry and jolly.

Ignoring this blue bunch of feelings won't make them go away.  They will fester all the more if they're not, at the very least, acknowledged.

That is why many churches have started to hold Blue Christmas services.  Some are held on the winter solstice (when what seems like the longest night of the year literally is).  Some are equated with Saint Thomas' feast day (which coincides with the winter solstice) in order to help process those Doubting Thomas feelings that we all sometimes experience.

In contrast to the hullabaloo that is normally experienced at holiday time, these services range from mellow to melancholy.  They often include muted colors, hushed music, and a meditative atmosphere.  Sacred space is intentionally created for grieving, comforting, and trusting that the truth shall set us free.

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Christmas_(holiday)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_(psychology)