The Value of Multicultural Unity
One would think growing up in New York I’d have many Jewish friends. But we lived in an area of Long Island where we were the only Jews in our neighborhood, surrounded by Catholic families.
My best childhood friend was (is) Catholic, and I was often at her home during Christmastime. Admittedly jealous of the mountains of gifts, the festive food, music and lights, I still learned about Christianity through her family. In turn, my family invited hers to light the menorah at our home, play dreidel with M&Ms, sing Chanukah songs, and eat latkes.
To find other Jews, we attended a small Jewish congregation in Ronkonkoma and later Hauppauge, where we lived. We also schlepped to the city to spend holidays with my maternal grandparents and extended family in Rego Park, Queens.
Fast forward to today. My husband and I are the only Jews in the neighborhood yet again. We are the minority, not only as Jews, but Caucasians. Most of our neighbors are Indian or Asian.
Several months ago, one of our Hindu neighbors invited us to their celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi, which is a time to reflect and pray for divine blessings and new beginnings, similar to our high holidays a few weeks later.
I also have found common ground with a Southern Catholic girl I met at the local gym. Unlike in New York, Catholics are considered minorities in the South. Her church and my shul often partner on joint Holocaust and interfaith programs.
While she and I literally spin our wheels, burning calories at the gym, we discuss our shared beliefs. For example, we both repent our sins, whether more regularly in confession or once a year during the high holidays. Breaking or blessing bread (challah) is a communal ritual for both faiths, which also value family unity and social justice.
These days I’m not the only minority – or token Jew – in all of my friend groups. Jews make up half of one group of mom friends who walk regularly for exercise and therapy in a shared neighborhood. One of the non-Jewish moms is from Cuba and another, India. We embrace our diverse cultures, cuisines, and rituals.
There are those who seek to divide us by our differences. With an open mind to new experiences, faiths and customs, I hope you recognize in your own communities this holiday season what unites, rather than what separates.
Roni Robbins is a journalist and author of, “Hands of Gold: One Man’s Quest to Find the Silver Lining in Misfortune.”