Leah Bitsky ’12
Staff Writer

Year 2002. I’m lying on the beach in my bathing suit, my eyes closed and shielded behind cheap sunglass that don’t really work, but look cool, hoping that I am tanning and not burning.

Florida is lovely in the winter. The day is perfect, the sky is cloud free, and it’s just another relaxing day of vacation…

Or is it?

Everything seems as if today is a normal day, until my mother announces, “Oh! Today’s Christmas!”

Without opening my eyes, I reply politely with something like, “That’s nice” or “Cool, Mom.”

The truth is, I don’t really care or notice because I am Jewish.

I have nothing against the festive holiday but I just don’t really pay attention to it.

The only difference is that every radio station that I turn to is playing either “Jingle Bells” or “Santa Baby,” and there are a bunch of lights draped over every house— but that’s been going on since Thanksgiving.

I am pretty sure that on Christmas Day, Jewish and Christian people are in two separate worlds.

On regular days, I don’t really think about what religion my classmates practice, but when Christmas is around the corner, it’s all about asking if you’re Christian or Jewish.

Sure, both religions believe in the same G-d, but still, I’ve got my testament and they’ve got theirs.

Christmas emphasizes the differences between Christian and Jewish people.

There are some Jewish people that want nothing more than to have their own Christmas tree because they are jealous of the Christian holiday; hence the Hanukkah bush.

With Christmas spirit all over the radio, television, newspaper, and town, there is bound to be some desire to be involved in it all.

On Christmas Eve, the Christian family is probably gathered round the table with their cousins, second cousins, third cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, eating delicious meats, drinking eggnog; the children awaiting Santa’s arrival in the middle of the night.

My night goes something like this:

My family and I gather together round the table. White plates are set out, the silverware atop the folded napkins, and food covers any open space there is.

It all sounds pretty fancy, but actually the plates and napkins are paper, the forks and knives are plastic, and the abundance of food is none other than Chinese.

Yes, the rumor is true. If a Jewish family wants to order in, they resort to the only restaurant that is open on December 24^th.

And so my Christmas night is full of mixed vegetables, fried rice, and sesame chicken—yummy.

My family might also rent a movie that night. We could watch TV, but let’s face it, “The Santa Clause 3” is a terrible movie and ABC Family won’t stop playing it!

So to me, as a person of the Jewish faith, I would have to say that when Christmas Eve rolls along, I have no idea that it’s happening— but I never check a calendar anyway, so it might just be me.