There's a reason I'm not spelling out RH. Because there is a particularly repetitive song that includes the title of the upcoming Jewish Holiday that starts with R in the first word and H in the second word and if I so much as think this two word title, I end up with that song caught in my head. After services last year I think it took a full month to get the tune out of my head.
So, henceforth on this blog, the Jewish Holiday that starts tomorrow with sundown, will be referred to as RH.
Before I met E, I had no knowledge of the Jewish religion. I thought Hanukkah was their big holy day. I did not know anything at all. When I realized E was Jewish, I went right home and Googled Jewish. So of course did my mom, since I'd called her on my way home to give her the daily "I'm talking regularly with this awesome guy and I think he likes me and we have plans to see a ball game and he is so cute and funny" update.
I've come quite the ways in understanding my husband's religion and culture. And I show my support of him by attending these services with him.
But let me tell you, it takes some adjusting. I was always taught that unless it's an absolute emergency, you come at the beginning of a service and leave at the end. There isn't a constant flow of people coming and going to their seats. There aren't side conversations that the other congregants have to hush from time to time. Of course, I don't know if there are any Christian services that last, start to finish, all day for two days, like RH does. And on Yom Kippur, there's the whole sitting through services having started to fast the night before at sundown. I don't fast but I do get to be around lots of hungry thirsty cranky people.
I think that even not being Jewish myself, learning the history and culture has been interesting. I hope that if you're out there and in reading this just found out that Hanukkah isn't the major Jewish holiday, that you'll take the time to learn more. Just because you don't believe a thing doesn't mean you can't learn about it.
Edited to add: I added a comment below about some folks who like to go around protesting and are protesting during the Jewish Holy days. E found a wikipedia link so that if you want to see some real haters of the world you can check them out.
We learned tonight that a group of "we hate everybody not exactly like us" trouble makers (so called because they bring their lawyers hoping someone will deny them their right to free speech)have planned a protest next week in Great Neck where E's parents live. I know people like that exist out there. And I try not to let their ignorance anger me. Especially when this particular group has protested everything from the Virginia Tech memorials to Veteran's events. Seems to me like they're just looking for someone to hate. Still, I can't understand what goes through their heads.
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