To Sing or Not to Sing - That is the Question


© Leah Magid

As mentioned in yesterday's article, my second grader's class will be singing a variety of Holiday songs at a school program in a few weeks. They have chosen a variety of songs about a variety of cultural celebrations.

Every year, my daughter is faced with a choice (and it is her choice, not mine, not Daddy's). To sing or not to sing. We are Jewish, we are proud of our Judaism, and we don't do Christmas. We don't have a tree, we don't hang stockings, we don't put up lights.

Daughter asks us every year - "Should I sing the Christmas songs?" Every year we tell her that it is up to her. We explain at her current age-appropriate level that if she wishes to help her Christian friends celebrate Christmas, she may, but she's not obligated to participate in the program. She brings this question because she knows that it's wrong to teach religion in school. We explain that this is not exactly teaching religion.

We remind her that we send Christmas cards to our Christian family and friends. We remind her that she helps her Gramma celebrate Christmas when we visit. We remind her that we say "Merry Christmas" in return when strangers greet us with holiday cheer on the streets - we don't correct them and say "We celebrate Hanukkah". We also explain that by singing these Christmas songs, she won't "Poof!" turn into a Christian. Finally, we explain that God wants us to be kind, helpful and respectful of others' beliefs.

Once again, she has decided that helping her friends celebrate is far more fun than standing silently on the risers.

She is more mature at seven than most of the adults I know.

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