A few thoughts about my favorite holiday. Aside from the obvious reasons (food, family, 90210 marathon on SoapNet, et cetera), Thanksgiving is the highlight of the PopKosher year because it is a secularly celebrated day that offers Jews full and complete participation. Thanks to President FDR, its Thursday status steers clear of Sabbath violations. Its origin and imagery contain no overtly heretical or offensive themes. But most importantly, its traditional foods are kosher!
I don't think it's a coincidence that this major American holiday accommodates Jews so well. Rather, Thanksgiving is essentially a Jewish holiday adapted by America. Afterall, Jews lichrally wrote the book on fleeing religious persecution. The Separatist Pilgrims schlepped across the Atlantic Ocean on the Mayflower. For us, the Red Sea parted, and we schlepped across on foot.
Okay, this might take you back a lifetime or two, but around now I like to dust off this clip from the 1986 Oscar winner for Best Live Action Short. I first saw Molly's Pilgrim on a mid-November day in elementary school, luckily before my tear ducts fully matured.
And so, 389 Thanksgivings after that first New England one, we once again give thanks for our family, friends, health and the freedom and tolerance we experience in America, and hope that someday soon the persecuted can stop schlepping.
No comments:
Post a Comment