In my last blog, I wrote about the ultimate peace on earth - the lion and the lamb, or perhaps the cat and the rabbit. So I thought I'd continue the thought with something interesting that happened in Efrat last week.
Our town received a letter from the Christian Sisters of Israel, who were visiting Bethlehem for Xmas. It seems that these ladies are supporters of Israel, and wanted to show my hometown Efrat their support. Efrat is right next to Bethlehem, and they thought that after visiting their holy sites in Bethlehem, they'd pop over to Efrat with two busloads of Christian pilgrims and sing Xmas carols to our families, and also bring a nice friendly Santa along with them to hand out candy to our kiddies. Being kind folks, they also promised to be out of our town before the start of the Sabbath.
This idea did NOT go over well with my fellow Efratians. In fact, they were quite upset. After leaving the Diaspora behind, and hoping to leave all remnants of Santa and reindeer along with it, the thought of being exposed to all this here in our own hometown was very upsetting.
I wrote a letter to the "Sisters". I truly believe there can be peace on earth, and I believe that peace must begin with understanding - understanding each other's sensibilities and beliefs.
MY LETTER:
Shalom from Efrat.
"Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me." Or let it begin with us. :)
We Efratians greatly appreciate the support of friends throughout the world.
Your good words to us are quite enough, and we thank you, and we will remember them.
We don't want you to take this in the wrong way, but I don't think Erev Shabbat caroling would go over very well in Efrat.
Friday is a special day for us, it is Erev Shabbat – a time when each in his own home prepares serenely or frenziedly (as in my case) for the beautiful day of Shabbat. We would not be able to join you to hear your carols. And because Xmas is not our holiday, we neither sing nor listen to Xmas Carols.
We do, however, thank you for wishing to please us and "raise our spirits". You have done so with your good wishes.
Our Jewish Nation has just celebrated the holiday of Chanukah, wherein our people fought against assimilation and the influences of foreign nations. On the heels of this holiday, it would be very inappropriate for us to participate in your activities. But we do wish you a peaceful holiday season.
Thousands of years ago, we had a great-great grandfather. His name was Abraham. G-d blessed him in a special way. He was told that whoever blessed him would be blessed. May you and your organization merit to always bless the Jewish Nation, and thereby bring blessings upon yourselves.
Sincerely,
Sharon Katz
Efrat
Our town received a letter from the Christian Sisters of Israel, who were visiting Bethlehem for Xmas. It seems that these ladies are supporters of Israel, and wanted to show my hometown Efrat their support. Efrat is right next to Bethlehem, and they thought that after visiting their holy sites in Bethlehem, they'd pop over to Efrat with two busloads of Christian pilgrims and sing Xmas carols to our families, and also bring a nice friendly Santa along with them to hand out candy to our kiddies. Being kind folks, they also promised to be out of our town before the start of the Sabbath.
This idea did NOT go over well with my fellow Efratians. In fact, they were quite upset. After leaving the Diaspora behind, and hoping to leave all remnants of Santa and reindeer along with it, the thought of being exposed to all this here in our own hometown was very upsetting.
I wrote a letter to the "Sisters". I truly believe there can be peace on earth, and I believe that peace must begin with understanding - understanding each other's sensibilities and beliefs.
MY LETTER:
Shalom from Efrat.
"Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me." Or let it begin with us. :)
We Efratians greatly appreciate the support of friends throughout the world.
Your good words to us are quite enough, and we thank you, and we will remember them.
We don't want you to take this in the wrong way, but I don't think Erev Shabbat caroling would go over very well in Efrat.
Friday is a special day for us, it is Erev Shabbat – a time when each in his own home prepares serenely or frenziedly (as in my case) for the beautiful day of Shabbat. We would not be able to join you to hear your carols. And because Xmas is not our holiday, we neither sing nor listen to Xmas Carols.
We do, however, thank you for wishing to please us and "raise our spirits". You have done so with your good wishes.
Our Jewish Nation has just celebrated the holiday of Chanukah, wherein our people fought against assimilation and the influences of foreign nations. On the heels of this holiday, it would be very inappropriate for us to participate in your activities. But we do wish you a peaceful holiday season.
Thousands of years ago, we had a great-great grandfather. His name was Abraham. G-d blessed him in a special way. He was told that whoever blessed him would be blessed. May you and your organization merit to always bless the Jewish Nation, and thereby bring blessings upon yourselves.
Sincerely,
Sharon Katz
Efrat
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