Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism

Member Login
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Get To Know Us
    • HCRJ Photo Gallery
    • Our Rabbi
    • Our Staff
    • Our Board Of Trustees
  • Worship with us
    • got shabbat?
    • Jewish Holidays
  • Connect With Us
    • Contact HCRJ
    • Find Us
    • Media
    • Connect with Our Friends
    • Rabbi’s Message
      • Monthly Messages
      • Weekly Reflections
  • Learning
    • 10 Minutes of Torah
    • Prayer Library
    • Religious School
    • Youth Learning
      • Bar/Bat Mitzvah Training
      • Bnai Mitzvah Tutoring
      • Greene Family Camp
      • Green Outbound
      • Housty
      • Torah Tots
    • Adult Learning
      • Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah
      • Basic Judaism
      • Marriage and Merlot
  • Calendar/Events
  • Membership
  • Get Involved
    • HCRJ Book Club
    • Senior Chai
    • Underwrite a Program
    • 60th Anniversary
      • Sponsorship
      • T-Shirts
      • Events
      • Margarita Madness
      • La Cena Italiana: Italian Dinner at Arcodoro

December 23, 2015

December 23, 2015 by Justin Deutsch

Dear Friends,

The Jewish community in the United States has never had difficulty finding ways to enjoy and participate in Christmas. As a child, I loved the fact that I could join my friend Brian Galloway (Irish Catholic) first thing in the morning to open his gifts under the tree and then spend the afternoon with my friend Chris Nico (Italian Catholic) with his family around the tree. Of course, Christmas Eve was reserved for Chinese food and a movie -a longstanding holiday tradition for all American Jews.

Many of us had similar experiences growing up, and as adults our Christmas traditions continue. Many of us have family members who are not Jewish, and we have the joy of sharing this sacred day with them. Others may choose to spend the day bringing joy and love to the world by doing a special mitzvah (if you are looking for such a mitzvah consider joining HCRJ at the Turning Point Center at 10:45AM to serve a Christmas brunch to the residents).

Whatever the case may be, Christmas in America has become part of the fabric of our society regardless of our faith. So in that spirit, I wish everyone in our congregation a day filled with love of family and friends and caring for the world in around us.

L’Shalom–Steve

Filed Under: All Rabbi's Messages, Weekly Reflections

Rabbi’s Message Categories

  • All Rabbi’s Messages
  • Weekly Reflections
  • Monthly Messages
  • Sermons
  • Religious School
  • Events
  • Monthly Bulletins
  • Find Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Membership
  • Member Login

801 Bering Drive | Houston, Texas 77057 | Phone: 713-782-4162| Fax: 713-782-4167| hcrj@hcrj.org

Copyright © 2019 Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism All Rights Reserved

Website Development by Levy Marketing Group