Do a Mitzvah This December (and Happy Chanukah!)
This month’s NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month, and yes, every month is national blog posting month) theme is MITZVAH. For all you non-Jews out there, MITZVAH is not an acronym for My Intense Testicles Zap Very Accurately Here. Often we translate mitzvah as “commandment” as in the 613 commandments of the Torah, although “commandment” isn’t the most appropriate word either”). But the term mitzvah is also used to express an act of human kindness, or even a “good deed” is you want to go that far.
It’s no coincidence that they chose mitzvah for December. Remember all those holidays coming up? Maybe you haven’t watched that annoying GAP commercial with the screaming children enough (“I love my comfy sweater… I love my comfy sweater….”). This is the time to be kind to one another and share the love. Need a secret Santa gift? In this economy, the best thing is not a $50 Best Buy giftcard but something more personal… why not just hang out for an entire day with a friend you haven’t spent much time with lately? I know I can’t wait to go home and see my family and friends (especially our upcoming epic IKEA adventure!).
On that note, NaBloPoMo offered the challenge of giving someone something every day of this month. That’s something we ought to do every day of the year. And even though it is too late for me to start posting every day this month, it is never too late for me to start giving. So here is what I’m giving my friends. If there is anything you want or anything I can do for you, please give me a call and I’ll help you out (within reason of course… I’m not changing your cat’s litter box again).
On a different yet related note, I was speaking to a stranger on Omegle who claimed to be female, but knowing this is Omegle she could have downright been male. Anyways, I discovered this person also a member of the tribe. Somewhere during our conversation I brought up how Chanukah (the correct spelling) is a minor holiday and only gets so much attention because it happens around Christmastime. My stranger friend was a tad offended; she loves Chanukah because it is a huge family bonding time for her and one of the only Jewish practices they follow. Most people would shrug this off, but this really made me think. Often I take for granted how much I’m into my Judaism and the fact that I celebrate every festival and observe–or at least am aware–of most of the laws and customs. But I forget that most Jews are not like me, and perhaps go to synagogue once a year for Yom Kippur. For them, I can see why Chanukah is a special time.
Here is what I have concluded. Chanukah is a minor festival in terms of halacha (Jewish law). But the story of Chanukah is just as important as any moment in Jewish history, and people have the right to be as festive (but not Festivus) as they desire to be.
To my Jews and non-Jews, have a legit Chanukah. May your chanukiahs (menorahs) hold long candles… because you know what they say about chanukiahs with long candles…
