Tradition

Word Associations are a fun game to play as an icebreaker in a classroom or even with friends around the dinner table. It's intriguing to know which words trigger different responses for different people. But also, word associations demonstrate how engulfed we are in our cultures and traditions. For instance, when I say "Professional Baseball," you might say "Yankees, World Series, or MLB." But if you lived in Kansas or Kazakhstan, you might reply differently. These associations culminate over time, most likely from the input of media and advertising - but also our surroundings. Our traditions. 

So, when I say "Jewish food on Christmas," we're all probably thinking the same thing. "Chinese Food!" I'm fairly certain "Honey Glazed Ham" wasn't on the tip of your tongue.

Because when it comes to Jews on December 25th and Sesame Chicken, they're conjoined at the hip. By far, this is one of my favorite Jewish traditions. And while I won't pretend that I don't chow down on Chinese food at least once a week, there's the unique element of tradition when I eat it on Christmas. It's the tradition of it that brings me a sense of community - even in a socially distanced world.

And why do we have traditions? Well, as Tevye reminds us, “without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as the fiddler on the roof! Traditions are how we keep balance. And we have them for just about everything. And how did these traditions come about? We don't know! But it's tradition. And because of them, everyone knows who they are and what God expects them to do.”

Like those of our festival holidays, traditions are ways that we demarcate special moments in time. Ways we memorialize happiness and joy. Community, welcoming, and togetherness. But as Tevye points out, traditions are often conceived without premeditation. Traditions can arise out of peculiar circumstances that just happen at the moment. Just like Jews and Chinese food on Christmas. 

According to Rabbi Joshua Eli Plaut, author of the book "Kosher Christmas: 'Tis the Season to be Jewish," Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe and Chinese immigrants were two non-Christian immigrant groups that happened to be living side by side in nearby Manhattan neighborhoods.” Author Jennifer 8 Lee notes that:

“ Jews were self-conscious about their standing in America. But in Chinese restaurants, they found a non-judgmental crowd happy for their patronage. Chinese people didn’t look down on Jews as being less American in terms of Westernness.”

"We Wish All Jews A Happy New Year," reads a Rosh Hashanah note from Chin Lee, the owner of Chin's on Broadway and 44th Street placed in the Sept. 16, 1936 issue of the paper. That same year, 18 new Chinese tea gardens and chop suey restaurants opened on the Lower East Side. 

Food writer Michael Twitty asks the question, "How do you affirm your Americanness when the 'American' thing to do is celebrate Christmas?" He says, "You create your own 'Christmas.'" And he's exactly right. The ability to create a new tradition is my favorite part about traditions. But also their continuity. The way it brings us back to precious moments that help us remember who we are -especially when the world around us feels unknown. 

In Hebrew, there are a few words for tradition, but the word used most often is "Minhag (מנהג)." Minhag can also mean "conduct" or "manner." For example, when walking into a new synagogue, you might notice they bow, sit or stand at other times that you're used to. Or even how they pronounce words during services. That is their Minhag. 

But there's a deeper meaning to our traditions than what we do inside the synagogue walls. The root of the word Minhag comes from the verb "Nahag (נהג‎)" Meaning to drive. Because our practices, habits, and rituals really do guide us. They drive our behavior. They direct us. Keep us balanced. Our traditions help us come together so that we're all on the same page when we feel out of place. 

So, while the world may feel unbalanced. Off-kilter and uneasy, may we be embraced by our tried-and-true traditions. May our customs and rituals keep us on track. Help guide us through the wilderness. Because no matter the circumstances in which our traditions were derived, they're still a part of us. In short, your Kung Pao Beef and Wonton Soup will always be there for you. They're a part of us now. It's tradition.