Happy Second New Year!
by: Ruchi Koval
On December 31st at 9 pm, I found myself at Target. Because, yeah. Little did I know that Target closed at 9 on New Year's Eve, but I found out quickly. Hindy and I ran in, grabbed the two items we needed, and ran to pay. I do believe it was the first time in history that I went into Target for two items and left with two items.
In any event, we wished the cashier Happy New Year's, and she smiled at us and said, "Happy second New Year!" That's what happens when you wear a headscarf out in public. I was impressed with her cultural savviness, but I guess when you work at the University Heights Target you meet up with a lot of them Jews.
Anyhow I contemplated her words as we drove home, then saw this meme on Facebook.
by: Ruchi Koval
On December 31st at 9 pm, I found myself at Target. Because, yeah. Little did I know that Target closed at 9 on New Year's Eve, but I found out quickly. Hindy and I ran in, grabbed the two items we needed, and ran to pay. I do believe it was the first time in history that I went into Target for two items and left with two items.
In any event, we wished the cashier Happy New Year's, and she smiled at us and said, "Happy second New Year!" That's what happens when you wear a headscarf out in public. I was impressed with her cultural savviness, but I guess when you work at the University Heights Target you meet up with a lot of them Jews.
Anyhow I contemplated her words as we drove home, then saw this meme on Facebook.
On New Year's Day, my son and I were out in the car and I asked him if he knew why there were hardly any cars on the road. I thought he'd say "because it's a fast day!" (another ramble) but he knew it was because of New Year's. Then he asked me if New Year's was like Thanksgiving. I think what he was asking was if it's a secular, but not Christian, holiday, as opposed to a Jewish one.
I said, "Yes, I think it's pretty similar," which to his mind means you can drive and you don't light candles. Then he asked me if Jews celebrate New Year's.
To which I replied, "Well, some do and some don't. We already had our new year on Rosh Hashanah, but today is the first day of the non-Jewish year." I struggled with which exact adjective to use to describe what kind of year is being celebrated. Is it, indeed, "non-Jewish"? I think so. New Year's is predicated on the birth of Jesus - actually it just may be the anniversary of his bris. Which brings to mind a lot of other problems, like if Jesus was Jewish, why should the new year predicated on his bris be considered non-Jewish?? But you know what I mean.
I do feel that the "secular/non-Jewish" or the ever-PC but huge mouthful "Gregorian" new year is a good time to stop and reflect anyway. Because so much of our world revolves around the Gregorian calendar, right or wrong, Jewish or non, it does feel like a renewal. And I feel that any opportunity for renewal is a good thing.
So if the new year means recommiting yourself to your resolutions from Rosh Hashanah, awesome. If it means new commitments, also awesome. If it means a time for reflection and instrospection, beautiful. If it's an opportunity for closure and freshness, excellent.
Either way, Happy Second New Year!
And don't forget to shop at Target.
Shabbat shalom!
Ruchi
I said, "Yes, I think it's pretty similar," which to his mind means you can drive and you don't light candles. Then he asked me if Jews celebrate New Year's.
To which I replied, "Well, some do and some don't. We already had our new year on Rosh Hashanah, but today is the first day of the non-Jewish year." I struggled with which exact adjective to use to describe what kind of year is being celebrated. Is it, indeed, "non-Jewish"? I think so. New Year's is predicated on the birth of Jesus - actually it just may be the anniversary of his bris. Which brings to mind a lot of other problems, like if Jesus was Jewish, why should the new year predicated on his bris be considered non-Jewish?? But you know what I mean.
I do feel that the "secular/non-Jewish" or the ever-PC but huge mouthful "Gregorian" new year is a good time to stop and reflect anyway. Because so much of our world revolves around the Gregorian calendar, right or wrong, Jewish or non, it does feel like a renewal. And I feel that any opportunity for renewal is a good thing.
So if the new year means recommiting yourself to your resolutions from Rosh Hashanah, awesome. If it means new commitments, also awesome. If it means a time for reflection and instrospection, beautiful. If it's an opportunity for closure and freshness, excellent.
Either way, Happy Second New Year!
And don't forget to shop at Target.
Shabbat shalom!
Ruchi
