My Conversion Story Journal

December 23. 2024

Christmas is coming up this week. My children haven't said anything this year about missing it. Instead, they have wished me a Happy Hanukkah. My oldest daughter, A1, is coming to join me for Shabbat and some Hanukkah celebrations with me. It will be my first full Hanukkah. Last year, I was only able to light the Menorah and that was it. This year, I am working at Hanukkah Wonderland. I'll never have the excitement of a child because I never experienced this as a child, but I'm hoping that watching and helping other children have the experience will give me at least of taste of what I've missed.

I want to go to a Menorah lighting at least once this year. I almost drove across state last year to see one, but didn't quite get the opportunity like I had hoped.

Living in the community is nice because I get to hear about the little traditions that I never would have heard before. Also the rules of Hanukkah that I have never heard and certainly never thought about.

Because the Jewish faith wants to keep pure and have no sign of idol worship, like worshiping a person as a god, there are laws on Christmas Eve. There is no studying of Torah on Christmas Eve. Studying the Torah could give the impression of believing in the "nativity." To me it makes sense. The same way that men not shaving the hair by their ears makes sense.

I'm hoping for a nice Hanukkah.