Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

Over the course of many years, our holiday of Chanukah often overlaps with the Christian holiday of Christmas on December 25. As we know, the narratives of the two holidays have nothing to do with each other. The events of Chanukah predate Christmas by a hundred and sixty-five years. This year, Chanukah concluded on Friday, December 18th.

Strangely, however, a special Jewish occasion does fall out on December 25th this year. The Fast of the Tenth of Tevet begins at sunrise this Friday and concludes with Shabbat. While Tisha B'Av commemorates the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem, the Tenth of Tevet marks the Babylonian siege around Jerusalem, one of the events leading up to the destruction of the First Temple. The seventeenth of Tammuz and the Fast of Gedaliah are other occasions of sadness which led to the Fall of the First Temple.

It is a rarity that the Tenth of Tevet occurs on December 25th. While we Jews do have significant days of fasting and mourning, fortunately, a majority of our days are filled with joy and gladness. Let's celebrate Shabbat, which this week also begins on The English date of December 25th.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Howard Morrison