But Rebecca has always loved decorating the tree!

[rebecca_in_blue]

Rebecca has taken some good-natured teasing from folks at her temple for putting up a Chris -- uh, I mean, a holiday tree. It probably didn't help that I accidentally called it a Christmas tree in front of Sassy Jewish Grandfather #2. (It just slips out!) I figure since Sara is a heathen, we live in an interfaith apartment, and therefore we can have a tree. Besides, it's not like anyone can throw me out of the religion for having a tree; the beit din told me when I converted that no one can throw me out. So, the Jews are stuck with me!

I have, however, tried to play down Christmas and put the focus more on Hanukkah. I put up a tree, but I got rid of our few religious ornaments (and I'll admit, I did with a heavy heart - I have fond memories of those). I got rid of my old Christmas-themed stocking and bought a more generic one that just has doves and the word peace. After services today, I bought several dreidels from our temple gift shop. The temple secretary bought a big bulk pack of dreidels from here and re-sold them for very reasonable prices. They are the most adorable little painted wooden dreidels!

Best of all, I found my dad's old Hanukkah mug in a drawer! I had forgotten he even had it. I gave it for him for Christmas 2001, ten years ago. My dad wasn't Jewish, but back in high school, I used to buy all my friends (all two of them!) cookies for Christmas. One year, the cookie shop was giving away free mugs to people who spent a certain amount, and I got a choice between a red-and-green or blue-and-white one. This was just before I started wearing glasses, so the blue-and-white mug was just a blur I assumed to be a generic winter scene. Later I saw the dreidels and menorahs. Looking back now, I can't believe the cookie shop was giving these away for free. It is such a big, beautiful, painted ceramic mug. It means so much to me to have it. Update: You can see my dreidels and my dad's Hanukkah mug here!

P.S. I had to watch a video on YouTube to learn how to play the dreidel game. The guy in the video said, "There's really no skill involved." I hope I can find some folks to play it with me.

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