Pride in Celebrating Who We Are
Take Pride in Who You Are
“Who can retell the heroic deeds of Israel? Who can count them?
In every age, a hero arises to redeem the people.
Listen! In those days at this season, Judah the Maccabee rescued us.
Now in these days all the people of Israel must unite and rise to redeem themselves.”
(Mi Yemalel)
I want to explore two ideas. The first is that much of what we consider valuable in our world arises out of these kinds of lopsided conflicts, because the act of facing overwhelming odds produces greatness and beauty. And second, that we consistently get these kinds of conflicts wrong. We misread them. We misinterpret them. Giants are not what we think they are. The same qualities that appear to give them strength are often the sources of great weakness. And the fact of being an underdog can change people in ways we often fail to appreciate: it can open doors and create opportunities and educate and enlighten and make possible what might otherwise have seemed unthinkable. (Malcolm Gladwell, David and Goliath (p.6)
Blessed are You, Adonai, who has made me a part of the Jewish people.
Questions to Consider:
When have you felt proudest to be Jewish?
Who are some of your heroes? Why are they heroic to you?
What kinds of overwhelming odds have you faced in this year? How have they shaped you?
What opportunities do you want for yourself and others?
Activities
Identity
Design a Jewish identity flag for yourself. Incorporate as many symbols, ideas, and words as you can that express your sense of Jewish pride.
Journal
When have you been most proud to be Jewish? Why? Have there been times when being Jewish was difficult? What happened in those moments? What helped you to move through these challenges?
What are your favorite things about being Jewish? List as many points of pride as you can.
Share the Light
Take your fully lit Chanukiah and place it in your front window. Take a picture and #ShareTheLight of your Jewish pride.
Family Activities
DECORATE WITH IDENTITY
Celebrate your family by highlighting different aspects of your family’s identity and lifting up stories about your ancestors. Grown-ups showing pride in their identity helps children feel connected and develop pride about their identity.
Story Time
On each night of Chanukah, tell a story about one family member that your children have never heard before.
Be a Detective
Pretend that you and your children are detectives. Take a walk around your house and see what a detective would learn about the identity of the people who live there just from what you see around the house. Does the artwork, books or food hint that you are Jewish? Do they hint at where your ancestors lived? Talk about the different parts of your identity as you find clues around the house.
Show Your Jewish Pride
Place your chanukiyah in the window to demonstrate your pride in being Jewish. See if you can come up with a reason you are proud to be Jewish for each lit candle.
