went to public schools, they socialized, for the first time, with mostly non-Jewish children.
Moral Dilemma
Although your parents were observant Jews when they came to the United States in the 1920’s, you and your family have kept almost none of the traditions. You have moved out to Levittown, Long Island from the East Side of New York, along with many other Jews. Your children go to school with mostly non-Jews, and belong to Little League and dancing class with non-Jews. This December, your ten year old daughter has come home and asked you to put up a Christmas tree in your home and large Christmas lights outside, in order to “fit in”. You inherently resist such an idea, since you feel Jewish even if you attend synagogue only 3 times a year. On the other hand, you do not want to disappoint your daughter and make her feel “left out” of the “in” crowd. Should you put up the Christmas lights and buy a tree? List the reasons to put up a tree and lights and reasons not to do so. What do you decide and why?
For further information, analysis, web sites and study by the teacher and or student on this topic, please refer to the Data Disk of Episode VII Educators’ Guide. Feel free to contact Rabbi Dr. Nachum Amsel for any questions or issues Nachum@jewishdestiny.com or phone 212-444-1656 – (note time difference to Israel when calling.)