Thanksgiving

[Rahel]

On a personal level, what are people up to for Thanksgiving? As Jews, it may be the easiest "American" holiday to participate in -- a harvest festival, very much like our own Sukkot, and a time when the religious overtones that are so present in contemporary American society aren't overwhelmingly Christian. I'd love to hear of people's Thanksgiving traditions. In my own family, although quite Jewishly observant, we always sing the Protestant hymn "We Gather Together," a remnant of my mother's education in the very Christian Boston public school system of the 1950s and '60s. We also don't eat Turkey -- a long family tradition dating back to a 17th century rabbinic ancestor who, like many rabbis of his time, declared this strange bird from the "New World" to be unkosher. But this year I am spending Thanksgiving with vegetarian friends, so we'll be eating "Tofurkey."

Please do share your holiday traditions

Rahel

[marcialou]

My grandfather always used to sing "We gather together" too. He moved to Boston from New York when he was 13. We eat turkey (except for those of us who are vegetarian.) We used to eat tsimmes instead of mashed potatoes, but now mashed potatoes is more the norm. (I prefer tsimmes.) We also give early Hanukka presents to children whom we won't be seeing until Passover.

This year we are doing the drive and eat routine: from Boston to Vermont on Thursday. From Vermont to Brooklyn on Friday for another big meal. From Brooklyn to Manhattan on Saturday, where we've already pleaded: "please no more food." We roll on home on Sunday.

So what do you eat if not turkey? Brisket?

Marcia

[Rahel]

Hey, Marcia.
Hope all your Thanksgiving travel went well.
Since my family doesn't eat Turkey, we usually eat capon, or something else entirely -- standing rib roast is a favorite treat. And brisket has certainly made an appearance.

I just learned something interesting from friends of mine who recently moved to NY from Toronto, which is that Canadian Jews don't tend to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving (which is held back in October). I thought that was really fascinating, because my experience in the US is that Jews embrace Thanksgiving as a holiday that we can celebrate with our neighbors of other religions. Any thoughts as to why this might be?

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!
Rahel