At dinner, after discussing the heavy snowstorm that hit the northeast US, I asked the kids, “Do you know what today is?”
Blank looks all around. I prodded, “Today is October 31 – does anyone know what that means?” Continued blank looks.
“It’s Halloween!” I announced. “Really??” they asked in surprise. Back in the US, it would have been impossible for them not to have been aware of it.
Another benefit of living in Israel – our kids are in tune to the Jewish holidays, and nothing else. 🙂
Avivah
I LOVED that about living in Isral. My girls didnt notice the passing of any of the non Jewish holidays. The feeling of not being a minority or as I think of it a “stranger in a strange land” is priceless! We are so happy for you and you are very missed.
Tova! So nice to hear from you.
I agree, it’s wonderful when Jewish children can grow up with their own holidays and religion being the social norm. The contrast makes even someone like me, who grew up in a family who had been in the US for a number of generations, and was (and am) very grateful to be born and raised American, look back and see how being there was living in a host culture.