Hello 2010! I hope you all enjoyed your December and had your fill of latkes, dreidels and family time. Kreine’s last post talked about how grateful she was for her Village. Well let me tell you, being a part of Kreine’s Village during Hanukkah this year was extremely fulfilling. I have so many fabulous memories. From celebrating with the Jewish Woman’s Group with a Latkes and Latte night to frying up sufganyot with the Hebrew School, I am truly thankful.
This Hanukkah also provided some unexpected, but treasured moments. The first started when my 7 year old daughter asked for an American Girl doll for Hanukkah. If you know anything about American Girl dolls, you know that these dolls are expensive. Seriously friends, how can a doll cost $100? Let’s not even mention the matching accessories! For the last few years I have had no problem brushing aside any American Girl talk.
This year however, my daughter asked for the new American Girl doll named Rebecca…and she’s Jewish. Wait, stop the presses! She’s Jewish? Okay, that peaked my interest. According to the American Girl website, Rebecca Rubin is “a girl growing up in New York City in 1914. Rebecca celebrates treasured traditions passed down through her Russian-Jewish family.” Rebecca’s story parallels my own family’s history. All of a sudden, a $100 doll seemed reasonable (well to me at least!). And yes, my daughter is now the proud owner of a Rebecca doll. As it turns out, Rebecca has become my own unexpected treasure. As I read the Rebecca book series with my daughter it has provided countless opportunities to talk with her about how her own Great-Great Grandmother emigrated from Russia. My father has even been kind enough to email my daughter with family stories from the same time period. The interweaving of our family’s rich history with Rebecca’s story helps bring Rebecca to life. You should have seen the look in my daughter’s eyes when I gave her a doily that her Great-Great Grandmother made…just like the doilies Rebecca makes and sells in her own story!
The next unexpected moment bring laughter to my heart. During the Chabad of Laguna Niguel’s wonderful Menorah lighting ceremony, candles were passed to each individual. When I refused to give one to my 2 ½ year old son he broke down into tears. A candle I would let him hold…a lit candle, no way. I reached for something in my pocket to distract him and found a Wall-E Pez dispenser. As we all held our lit candles in prayer, my son proudly waved his Pez dispenser in prayer. How could I not laugh? By the way, this is also the son who changed the words of “Oh Hanukkah” to include:
“…gather round’ the table we’ll give you a treat…dreidels to play with and latkes to eat. And Kreine gives me Otter Pops, and Kreine gives me Otter Pops!”
Once again, thank you friends for allowing me to share my stories. I invite you to share your own stories with our community. Please feel free to leave a comment if you would like a post of your own. I would love to give you the floor!
Neil Bersntein wrote...
My name is Neil Bernstein, Dara's father.
As always, my daughter wrote a very funny, yet powerful blog.
Just the fact that my grandaughter's $100 Rebecca doll has stimulated her interest in our fairly typical Jewish family history makes the purchase well worth it.
Isabella's great-great grandmother would be so very proud of her and the way she and her mother are so involved with their Jewish spirituality and history.
Grandma Fox's history as a child in Stalinist Russia was very difficult and she rarely wanted to talk about it. Despite all of the discrimination against Jews in America during the early 20th century, she was very proud to be an American and glad to be away from Russia. Just to see that Isabella is interested in carrying on part of the family tradition is very heart-warming.
Lorraine Goldstein wrote...
I had played with paper dolls and “clothespin” dolls that we made with my cousins and friends… and later, Barbie’s my nieces.
Our "American Girl" doll education came early last year. I was "flabbergasted" when I found out what these dolls cost! Their outfits and paraphernalia cost more than some children's clothing!
Our granddaughter Aren became enamored with the American Girl dolls last year after going to American Girl Camp (day camp) for a week. (We had bid on this at the silent auction fundraiser for her school in March and won.)
Well, after Aren went to camp in July, all we heard about for the rest of the summer was Samantha this and Samantha that. Of course she would pick one that was retired and nearly impossible to find in new condition at a reasonable! Somehow my husband found one and purchased it... along with several outfits and books about Samantha. We kept it hidden until her birthday in September. He had spent countless hours searching for items for the new doll. I was starting to wonder who would enjoy these gifts the most – my husband or my granddaughter! Turns out, thankfully because he had me worried there for a while, for him it was “the thrill of the hunt”. It’s a man thing!
Aren squealed with delight upon receiving her very first American Girl doll, and it was Samantha too! The doll she had been dreaming of getting for so long! She nearly turned inside out! That very same day she started talking about how Samantha needs a friend and Rebecca Rubin, the newest addition, would really be perfect because she’s Jewish just like us!… and you can get a side table and a Sabbath set to go with it so that she can do Shabbat too, and on and on she went! OY! We’re thinking, “there goes the wallet”!… but she’s learning history… and geography…
Well, guess what happened next? Aren received a belated birthday present in the mail from one of our dearest friends. (That was some gift!) Rebecca Rubin is now part of our family too, and teaching her other dolls how, and what it means to be Jewish.
I now think it’s marvelous that they can integrate historical education while playing with period dolls. I see how excited Aren is to learn more (historically and geographically) and how it has created another venue for her through interactive play. I guess you really can’t put a price on education… no matter what form it takes!
Kreinie Paltiel wrote...
As I simultaneously pack away the last of the Purim decorations (and work on uploading the pics for everyone to enjoy!), and begin making a mental Passover prep list, your post about traditions comes into my mind.
First let me say, that once again your post is excellent. Both funny & poignant, it really touched my heart.
You've touched on a really powerful point. "Treasured traditions" are a large part of what Judaism is all about. Its the spice and the spirit of the mitzvot - its what keeps it all going. Think of all the amazing memories you've created for your children over Chanukah with the various Menorah lightings and celebrations. Not to mention your unforgettable Purim costumes this Purim at the Purim party. (How I wish I could upload a picture of that here! Think 3 bruised faces, 3 missing teeth, 3 hockey sticks & shoulder pads, and one flawless cheerleader...)
You've created cherished moments of joy, and laugh out load memories. Something that your children will undoubtedly want to recreate for their own one day. And thats what traditions are all about.
PS - let Matty know I will be restocking otter pops first thing after Passover...