If you google the phrase “Santa doesn’t come down my chimney” you will find several interesting sites.
One is a forum where someone asks, “So what's your story as to how you found out Santa didn't exist as a kid?”
My favorite answer: “I found my presents early. That's when I knew the horrible secret. The world then started to collapse.”
Do parents who tell their kids about Santa Claus realize that they are setting them up for disillusionment?
If you read some of the responses on that forum, you’ll see many stories of disillusionment, people who were seriously led to believe in Santa Claus, up to the point where their parents outright lied in order to cover up the fact that the presents had arrived early.
2 questions for your table:
1. What’s the greatest piece of wisdom your parents taught you?
2. What’s the greatest piece of wisdom you would hope the next generation will remember you for?
The top hit for the Santa phrase is this blog from a year ago, when we exclusively published the lyrics from the new hit song, “Chinese Food On Christmas”.
Last year, you could watch the song as a piano solo:
This year, if you hurry, you could be one of the first 1,000,000 people to watch the new video:
Judging from viewer comments, the video contains one or two controversial scenes. I’m curious to know what you think – witty satire or offensive?
Regardless of the stories you tell to the children in your life, there is an ancient, ancient Jewish custom to give them a blessing on Friday night and holidays.
You can make this into an enjoyable family tradition. Here’s how: have the children line up from oldest to youngest, put your right hand on each one’s head or shoulder and say:
For girls: “May you become like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.”
(i.e., wise, generous, spiritual, discerning)
For boys: “May you become like Ephraim and Menasheh.”
(Not exactly on the caliber of the women? Why not bless them to be like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Moses? David and Solomon? Ephraim and Menasheh felt no rivalry and knew who they were and where they came from despite growing up in a challenging culture.)
Shabbat Shalom
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