Happy New Year!
I am so excited to see my family today. Considering I missed the last family function, I am looking forward to this even more!
Today my family is getting together for fun, food and laughs to celebrate the Jewish New Year also known as Rosh Hashanah.
Even though, I am not what you would call a ‘practicing’ Jew. In fact, I wouldn’t identify myself as Jewish. At. All. I don’t speak or read Hebrew. I didn’t attend Hebrew school, nor did I have a Bat-mitzvah. I don’t attend temple, and I am not raising my son Jewish.
So why am I participating in this event?
Anyone up for a ‘Quick Family History’?
Yes?
Good.
My grandmother, my mothers mother, “MANGA” was an Italian Catholic lady. My uncles, my cousins and relatives on her side of the family are also Italian Catholic. My grandfather, my mothers father, “POPPA-SYE” is Jewish. When Manga & Poppa Sye got married way back in the day, their interfaith wedding was a huge taboo. You can read all about their love story here.
My mother, Pam, was raised with both religions and ideals. She was allowed to choose which religion she wanted to be when she grew up. Somewhere along the way, my mother eventually decided to embrace the Jewish religion. I’m not exactly sure when or why.
While my brother Adam went on to attend Hebrew school complete with having a Bar-mitzvah, I went off to tour with the Grateful Dead.
Later on, my mother married her high school sweetheart (my now stepfather). He is what I like to call a ‘Pseudo-Jew’. My stepfather, Ron, was born and raised Italian Catholic. His whole side of family is also Italian Catholic. My stepfather converted to Judaism in his previous marriage and raised his son my stepbrother Lee with the Jewish faith.
So. Let’s break this down.
My family (on BOTH SIDES) are Italian Catholics. EXCEPT for my immediate family. My mother, my stepfather, both of my brothers and both of their wives are Jewish.
Got all that?
The coolest thing about my family’s religious situation? Up in here we celebrate all of the Jewish holidays AND all of the Catholic holidays. It’s like getting to party together practically year round.
[I just like any opportunity to spend time with my family. No matter what the reason.]
Anyway. In attempt to restore some sense of normalcy in my world, I am going to relish in every single moment I have with the people who matter the most in my life.
Oh, and I cannot wait to harass my family members with incessant clicks and flashes of my camera. It seems like it’s been an awful long time since I took any pictures. I wanted to be fully prepared for this occasion, so last night I charged the battery and placed a fresh 8G-memory card inside my camera. No one is safe. I have the ability to take over 4,000 shots in a single sitting. And don’t think for a second I wont be using that capability to its fullest. YAY.
I am off to help my mother with the fishing touches around the house…
Wishing you a Shana Tova ! Sounds like your house-hold is a very exciting place !
I know kitchens at this time of the year can become a place for cooking marathons ! LOL !
Have lots of fun !
Our New year and “Yom Kippur” will be arriving in the next three months.
Wishing you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR. I do so love hearing the stories about your family. They sound like wonderful people. Enjoy your time with them!
Have a great time, Mereb! Happy New Year!
Tour with the Grateful Dead? Hell yeah….
??? ????
Enjoy the family!
oh I pasted hebrew characters saying Happy new year and it didn’t move over into the blog so. Happy New Year!
Jaffer:
Wow. Really? Cool.
Selma:
Thanks Darling.
My family is alright.
Steph:
I’m going to do my best to have a good time.
Why am I all of a sudden little antsy?
No Idea.
Hopefully that feeling will go away.
Soon.
Sinner:
Sure did.
*Loved*
Oscar:
LOL
Thank you!
Happy New Year my dear! May this year bring you much peace – something we are all looking for….
Hey that sounds fun, and HAPPY NEW YEAR to you 🙂
Do you need to do any special thing today? Like wearing red or something?
hhmm, actually I like any festival that involves food and drink, doesn’t matter if it is Indian, Muslim, Jews, Buddhist or what, as long as it has plenty of food and alcohol, it’s worth celebrating.
Happy New Year Meleah….have fun!
Skipper:
Ah yes…some peace would be fantastic.
RMH:
Its all about a good party.
Mrs, Schmitty:
Thank you!
Yep – but I think it’s much more related to Passover. I need to look into it in depth though.
I wrote about out new year in January. http://maniaravings.com/blog/wish-you-a-successful-1429
Happy, happy New Year to all of you. You certainly deserve good times with family and clicking photos, that’s for sure. And yes, you sound like a normal American family. Um, are you having good food. You know how I’m all about the food, right? Photos, please? Thanks. Mwah.
And I thought my family was hard to keep track of!
Happy Holidays !
Hope you enjoy your time with your family and share some of the pics with us.
Toodles~
Jaffer:
Thanks man!
Kellypea:
Damn…we just finished eating.
And I didn’t get any pictures of the food
Shoot!
I guess I’m still “off my game?”
Rev:
Its nuts over here with religion. My family just tells me when and where to be and I show up!
Employee No3699:
Thanks and Will Do with the photo sharing!
L’Shana Tovah!
Oddly, I was raised Roman Catholic, but fully embraced Judaism when I worked in Hell!
Yes, yes, I know Jews don’t believe in Hell, but it was a very special place! Ha.
(Oh, I can understand why someone would choose it over RC if given the choice!)
You have the BEST of both worlds! How cool is that??
Happy New Year!
happy everything!
you’ve just made me realize that by giving up my religion, i lose out on a whole host of celebrations.
maybe i’ll cheat and just celebrate them anyway.
Courtney:
Thank You!
xxoo
Dawn:
Yeah. I do! It’s pretty fun!
HollyDolly:
You can celebrate all of them with us!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jJhSKW9n13s
Happy New Year to you! Hope you have/had a wonderful time with your wonderful family. 🙂
And OMG we have to discuss the Dead – I went to 24 shows!!!!
Oscar:
That Was Awesome.
Thank You!
🙂
Eva:
Really? I went to like 468 shows. I toured for a FULL YEAR.
*oh the stories I can tell*
Yeah. WE should…no, we NEED to talk about The Dead.
well, happy Jewish New Year to you 😀
With the Jewish thing it’s strange because even if you don’t go to temple and stuff you are still considered Jewish because it’s like a race of people. So you have jews that practice and what not and secular/cultural Jews that don’t do anything.
This was explained to me because when I converted I not only had to make the spiritual commitment but I also had to be made part of the Jewish race in a ritual I wont discuss here but involves a tiny bit of blood. LOL!
Nick
Thanks! Dood!
Ricardo:
I have no real religious identity.
And that WORKS for me
You don’t need it. It’s not for everyone. And the people that run around saying you NEED religion in your life are full of it and hiding something. actually I bet they are total freaks.
Ricardo:
I couldn’t agree with you any MORE!!
“Even though, I am not what you would call a ‘practicing’ Jew. In fact, I wouldn’t identify myself as Jewish. At. All.”
I guess I read this post to quickly. ;o)
I can’t imagine my life without religion, and I’m not a “total freak”. I’m only a freak in bed. LOL! …Um, that’s a joke.
Awake:
That’s okay!
“I can’t imagine my life without religion, and I’m not a “total freak”. I’m only a freak in bed. LOL! …Um, that’s a joke”.
And that was a VERY funny joke!
xxoo