November 27, 2010- Vayeshev

So the word on the web is that 46 million turkeys are killed for thanksgiving every year. If you like, to stave off the genocide, you can join ellen degenerous and adopt a turkey instead of eating it. I'm not sure it's as cute as the cabbage patch fad of yore, but you'll have plenty of plumes for your calligraphy lessons. There's also tofurkey for the vegans and turducken, john madden's concoction of 3 birds one stuffed inside the other for the real carnivores. This is America's answer to seder night. In Plymouth, MA in something like 1621 the native Americans had helped the newcomers adapt and cultivate food for survival and for that they were treated to a meal of gratitude, with the indigenous and bountiful turkey as the centerpiece. This was probably a lovely gesture considering the future the native Americans would face at the hands of the grateful.

Interesting tidbit: many religious Jews who immigrated to the colonies refused to eat turkey because it's apparently not to be found in Europe, certainly not the middle east, and thus there was no tradition to its Kosher status (and the birds in the Torah named - none of them with overt turkey designation). But we've managed to work it out, thank G-d; otherwise we'd feel so un-American.

Lest our gratitude for life and blessing be lost on heartburn alone, we've got black Friday to justify our deep seeded desire for stampedes, pillaging, plundering and hedonism. Seems like the turkeys get their 'stuffing' revenge when we stuff ourselves with far worse than bread crumbs. As I write these words, the lines outside Target are growing in size and tension.

On Thursday night, the 2^nd night of Chanukah, we are making an UPSHERIN for our Yehudah. This is the celebration of his 3^rd birthday accompanied by his very first haircut (upsherin in Yiddish). More than the haircut, however, is the opportunity it provides - the making of the peios (side locks seen most prominently on Chassidim, but worn by all observant jews, often a bit more modestly). He'll also get a kippah and tzitzis, but the peios are the essential source of the celebration. Besides their spiritual and kabalistic significance, they are a true sign of a Jew - distinct and different, beautiful and unique. As with a bris milah, a Jewish boy gets (needs) another sign to distinguish himself and show his Jew colors. For this, once the scholars, tzadikim, family and friends have snipped a locket or two of his gorgeous blonde mane, we will pull out the stops and have our own thanksgiving meal, with quite a different menu - latkes and lights, and anything BUT the turkey and sweet potato pie.

Chanukah is the time to celebrate the sacrifice and miracle of Jews who realized assimilation was a death warrant and Jewish distinction should be a source of pride, if not a vital organ of existence. I am feeling a deep, beautiful sense of 'revenge' in celebrating, nay creating, my son's peios during Chanukah. That the menorah and its oil stands for the victory of Jewish religious service and namely the power of Jewish wisdom, this is the message I will devour with every scissor snip as our dear Yehuda is set apart. The other correlation of an upsherin is to the mitzvoh of orlah - a tree is to be left alone for 3 years as it grows and critically strengthens itself and its roots. The 4^th year of its fruits are considered holy - for G-d alone. From then on it will feed the Jewish people. We surely hope he's grown strong, and will endeavor to make his 4^th year holy, and G-d willing continue to raise him as an integral part of the Jewish people. BTW, you're all invited!!!! Seriously.

Good Shabbos,

Rabbi Lynn