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Jewish At Christmas
| Open Poetry #17 |
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Jewish At Christmas |
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Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan 
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at my neighbor's Christmas tree, with envy, I peer with stoplight colors, candy canes and tinsel strands of lights, on and off they twinkle a mystery of gifts, dressed in shiny paper the odor of the pine tree's heady vapor doorways and porches festooned with greens with red ribbon swirling in between the world is a riot of colored lights with carolers singing "Oh Holy Night" and stores bedecked with winter dazzle try hard to soothe the shopper's frazzle but I'm Jewish, I say-I don't celebrate this must be the "chosen people's" fate every December with an envious surge to celebrate Christmas, I resist the urge but I want some gifts in shimmery attire I wish I could sing in a Christmas choir and come home to that pine tree, twinkling bright instead, I will light my menorah tonight  copyright2001 Lyra Nesius "poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks [This message has been edited by Madame Chipmunk (edited 12-17-2001).] |
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| © Copyright 2001 Lyra Nesius - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Startime Member Ascendant
since 2000-10-03
Posts 5918Canada |
Oh .... but you have some of the most beautiful traditions....I can well understand your desires though because once, though I am Christian...I was married to a man who did not let us celebrate Christmas. **big hugs**  Love I leave with you whether it is in your life now or yet the essense of your dreams. |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Madame Chipmunk, Seems there is always something to envy. I'm sure you have many things to celebrate as well!  |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
I lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba which had a large population of Jewish people, and I used to envy your holidays too! I had friends in school that got excused and I wanted "out" too! Christmas such as it was supposed to be has changed quite a bit in over the years, and the tinsel, presents and decorations you see seem to mean more than why we are supposed to be celebrating which is the first "CHRIST - mas" or the birth of Christ. However be proud, as in your religion, the tradition has held fast by a proud people. I understand your poem though, and it is human nature to want to be part of whatever is going on. I wish I was there to light your menorah with you! I hope you find peace in your Feast of Lights. Shalom. ~*~ May the spirit of this season live in your heart all year through ~*~ |
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rebekah33 Member
since 2001-12-13
Posts 140MD/NJ |
The grass is always greener...I hope you had a nice Hannukah! -R. "So stop and love and dance and live and laugh until you cry" Edwin McCain |
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N orth Carolina Girl Senior Member
since 2001-12-04
Posts 962NC,USA |
Lyra,you do celebrate Christmas in your heart!  TAKE CARE! Love,Juanita |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Madame C, A bright and lovely write, enjoyed. |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Menorah of candles The wonder of light Has equal the measure Of Christmas delight Equal the miracle Savior's sweet birth As a lamp void of oil That lit up the earth The sun wakes a child To gifts with his name And it sets at the hour To light up a flame Both candle and tinsel Both measures of grace To stir up the spirit And light up your face Loved your poem Very cute Take care Liz |
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Marsha
since 2000-07-10
Posts 7423Maidstone Kent England |
Lyra darling girl, Yes you do celebrate Christmas, because you carry the spirit with you right through the year. In you there's no just being nice for Christmas, there's no Christmas spirit for one day only. YOU darling girl carry the love, giving joy and peace all the year. YOU give of your heart all the time. This is a fabulously well written and wonderful poem as always YOU SHINE girly I love it    Love and warm stuff As always Mushy  : To give light to them that sit in darkness..... to guide our feet into the way of peace St John ch2 v1 |
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peaches73533 Senior Member
since 2001-11-04
Posts 981OK, USA |
Even if you don't celebrate the spirit is inside you.For I see it shining through.I'm sure you have may special ways to celebrate hannakuah. Peaches |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 (sigh) Oh Lyra, I know just how you feel, for I love something out of every belief we all share! (sigh) There is so much I wished I could celebrate that Jewish people do, just as I am fascinated with many Buddhist and Hindu and other traditions! (sigh) So very touching, sweet friend, the beauty of the holidays always shines in your cheerful heart! (kiss on cheek) We all love you so much, sweet friend! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Lyra, thank you for sharing!  May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton |
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Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
Thanks so much for the hugs, Karen... Its so hard, as you know...to see the whole world celebrating and not be able to do it. I take it, that this man is the father of your stepdaughter about whom you wrote that absolutely beautiful poem... I hope you have a merry Christmas...  copyright2001 Lyra Nesius "poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks [This message has been edited by Madame Chipmunk (edited 12-18-2001).] |
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Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
Larry, Rebekkah and Seymour, Thank you for your replies... The grass is always greener...but in winter, the snow is always whiter when it has beautiful Christmas decorations on it. The Jewish people do have many beautiful traditions to celebrate, but Christmas is just so universal, that many of us feel left out of society because we aren't supposed to celebrate. But I hope you all have a Merry Christmas.  copyright2001 Lyra Nesius "poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks [This message has been edited by Madame Chipmunk (edited 12-18-2001).] |
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Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
Mysteria...Thanks for reading my poem...You are so right about the commercialization of Christmas...it really doesn't have the true meaning its supposed to have...I think Chanukah strikes a bit closer there to the true meaning. Liz...thank you for that beautiful poem... Merry Christmas to both of you. copyright2001 Lyra Nesius |
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Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
Juanita, Marsha and Peaches... Thank you so much for those compliments... I think my head is swelling! I never knew that I carried the spirit of Christmas with me and that it shines right through! Thank you all for saying that! Just don't tell my mother...She would be very upset that her Jewish daughter shines with the spirit of Christmas... Boy...would I be in big trouble with her!  But...I love that you all said that about me!  copyright2001 Lyra Nesius |
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Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
And thank you too, Noah...for having such a great big heart. copyright2001 Lyra Nesius |
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Mother_Earth Senior Member
since 2000-11-20
Posts 13701/2 year Texas & 1/2 year Michigan |
Madame, My neice married a Jewish boy and now they have a baby girl. They are trying to join the two religions. I think that is great because they have a whole bunch of holidays. Loved your poem and hope you at least can have some egg nog. ME |
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Tracey Member Elite
since 2001-08-29
Posts 2808where insanity meets breeding |
I can imagine that it would be a little difficult when it seems everyone around you is celebrating Christmas. This is a very cute poem, and I wish you the best of the season, with your own traditions. I will think of you lighting your menorah. If she who dies with the most toys wins, then can I have some toy boys please? |
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Kethry Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-29
Posts 9082Victoria Australia |
Lyra, the nice thing about Christmas is that your God gave out God...Happy Chanukah Keth. Here in the midst of my lonely abyss, a single joy I find...your presence in my mind. Unknown |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
I never really thought about this too closely before Lyra, but I very much enjoyed your thoughts and all the wonderful responses that followed. The spirit is alive and glowing in this thread. (I love your pen name, by the way Madam Chipmunk) Best wishes and happy holidays to you! /Kit |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
We are but one humanity I would be more than happy to share my Christmas with you, my Passionate friend |
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Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
Mother Earth, Thank you for your reply... I think its great that they are trying to join both religions. My late husband was baptist but converted to Judaism and we brought our children up in the Jewish religion, but every Christmas we went to his parents house so that our kids could experience a little bit of Christmas. I think it was good for them! My new husband isn't Jewish either...and we usually go to his ex-wife's house for Christmas(they are close friends now, like sister and brother)....so I still get a little bit of it!  copyright2001 Lyra Nesius "poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks [This message has been edited by Madame Chipmunk (12-22-2001 01:22 PM).] |
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Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
Keth, Tracey and Nan, Thank you so much for your good thoughts and wishes... I hope that you all have a merry Christmas.    copyright2001 Lyra Nesius |
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Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
Thanks Kit, and I hope you have a great one also! I chose the name "Madame Chipmunk" because my husband's pet name for me is "Chipmunk"...for some reason, he thinks I look like a rodent with a black stripe down it's back and its cheeks stuffed with acorns. I added the "Madame" so that everyone would know that I am female. I am glad that you like it.  copyright2001 Lyra Nesius "poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks [This message has been edited by Madame Chipmunk (12-22-2001 01:31 PM).] |
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GenXer Senior Member
since 2001-12-15
Posts 583USA |
Lyra - You poor thing. Heck, there is no reason you can't celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas. Well, except for that whole religion thing. Hey, I'll tell Santa to drop by your house and deliver you a delicious NY style pizza. Sound good? Dave |
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Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
Sounds great, Dave!!!!!!but please make that a Michigan pizza! They're so much tastier than NY pizzas  and they don't have that smelly NY grease all over them...ugh!   This is the chef who makes those NY pizzasany questions? copyright2001 Lyra Nesius |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Dave if you are reading, I will be lighting a Menorah in her honor as she is always missed, always. |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
We love and miss you Lyra! |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
I miss her so much!!!! |
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MoonShadow Senior Member
since 2001-08-02
Posts 943Dark side of the Moon. |
It saddens that some think Christmas needs to be regulated by or belong to religion. While I do not deny, nor do I argue, that Jesus may be the "Reason for the Season", I recognize that Spirituality is a personal association between the Soul and God.. no matter who He or She may be called... rather than religion which may be, in my humble opinion, a product of mankind... administered with tradition and perpetuated by mankind. I may not be "Religious"... but very "Spiritual". Christmas belongs to all who would embrace and celebrate it, regardless of religious creed or culture. There is more than one way and more than one reason to celebrate in the Spirit of Christmas. The Spirit of Christmas is a powerful feeling of magic in the Soul, that can manifest regardless of the creed or religion you choose. You have it too, Milady.. there inside of you. It glows and resonates with resounding beauty whenever the muse inspires you to share it with others. Whenever you feel the warmth inside your Soul... that is the Spirit moving within you. With each and every gift you share at P.I.P. it is the product of that Spirit, and a reflection of the 'Christmas like Spirit'. I, and your friends at P.I.P. rejoice in the gifts your soul shares. In some of us it manifests actively many times throughout the year. Why supress it simply because it also seems to be prevailant at this season. I believe that any season, or any reason that would facilitate "People" becoming more humane Souls or, for a moment, more reflective upon the needs, emotions, or well being of their fellow men is a blessed event that should not be set aside. Do not deny yourself, if the Spirit moves your Soul, simply because others misconstrue the reason for "your' season. Enjoy the benevolent feelings and rejoice. Celebrate the presence of the Spirit of Christmas in your fellow man. Rejoice in the opportunity, for a small moment, to put aside differences that would dampen the Spirit and extinguish the warmth shared by Souls mutually moved (for what ever reason... Spiritual, Cultural... or religious) to embrace Souls in heartfelt fellowship. You cannot deny the wonderful feelings of your Spirit any more than you can deny that there is, at least, one time of the year that allows all, who chose to do so, to be more benevolent to each other. As a practicing "Personification of the Spirit of Christmas Present", I want to personally wish all the warmest heartfelt holiday season. I also invite everyone to rejoice and celebrate in any way you choose, in any such manner that grants your Soul peace, warmth, joy and feelings of Love. Merry Christmas.... Happy Chanukah.... Prosperous New Year MoonShadow |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
I expect that Lyra would heartily agree.. Thank you for bringing her back to us for this festive time of the year... |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Chipmunks are all around... and we leave no one behind, do we, Lyra? Merry Christmas, my Jewish Wonder! |
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