Welcome to Gaia! ::

My entry:
It has two parts- first the very bad
Unlike most people here, Easter has never been a good time for me. Being Jewish, I have grown up in predominantly Christian areas where the people have been, shall I say, less than friendly at Easter time. It's amazing how, Jesus, a Jew and a Rabbi, always taught tolerance, peace and love. Why is it then at Easter, his most ardent followers seem to think it's those that practice the same religion as Jesus should be maligned, hated and cursed. Has 2000 years of history class and umpteen Hollywood movies not driven the point home yet? The Jewish people didn't kill Jesus, the Romans did! Yet, to this very day, certain Christian sects still teach in the seminaries and preach from the pulpits that Jews kill their Christ. And year after year, Easter after Easter, Jewish children are tormented by their otherwise Christian friends. It isn't fair, and it isn't fun. Every year growing up, my sisters and I were subjected to ridicule and blame for personally being responsible for killing Jesus. Hell, he died almost 2000 years before we were born, how could we or anyone we know have killed him, but yet, that's what we were accused of doing.

Finally, after we moved next door to a Southern Baptist minister, one who happened to have the largest flock in our area, the torment got really bad. Christmas and Easter were unbearable. I went to my father and asked what to do, before I completely would lose my temper and punch someone. Having had just enough martial arts training, I knew I would do a little harm, hopefully break the preacher's kid's nose at least! Dad had been waiting for me to ask, just waiting. He said you really want to get them, tell the truth. They will run back to their parents and their minister and then HE will have to explain it to them all. I asked what he meant and he said to just tell them: "Just because you worship one of us, doesn't mean you have to worship all of us."

I looked at him for a moment, and then it hit me. That's right, Jesus was Jewish, we are Jewish. THEY WORSHIPED A JEW! So, the next day, sure enough, at school, at lunch, it started. Some know-it-all Christian kids decided to lay into me again. "Hey Rita, how does it feel to be a killer?" "You killed Jesus" "You crucified Christ," At the last one, I got up from the lunch table in the crowded Jr High cafeteria, and quite loudly proclaimed, "I have had it with you ignorant Christians! You don't know anything about religion or history. The Romans killed Jesus, not the Jews. Just because you worship one of US, doesn't mean you have to worship all of US, but expect a little respect. After all, the JEWS are the CHOSEN people. I don't remember anywhere in the BIBLE where it says the CHRISTIANS are the CHOSEN people!"

After my little tirade, I got up, took my partially eaten lunch and left the cafeteria, ran to the restroom and cried for the rest of my lunch period. It was difficult to finish the day in school, but I did. Of course, no one would talk to me the rest of the day, but that was okay too.

That evening, the minister from next door came over to talk to my father about what happened in school. He demanded to know from my father why I said what I did. (Dad and I had already talked about it, he was impressed that I expounded on what he told me to say. I knew my Bible quite well-OT that is- there is no NT in Judaism). My father calmly explained that he had indeed told him that he did tell me I should say what I did because it was the TRUTH! The minister was flabbergasted. How could my father say such a lie! A lie? What was the lie?

See that's where we had him. It was the truth. For some unknown reason, this man, this MINIISTER, honestly believed that Jesus was a CHRISTIAN. How can Jesus be a Christian? Christians are people that FOLLOW CHRIST? How could Jesus follow himself? My father and this man sat in our living room, after the minister calmed down, and finally talked things out rationally. My father explained the hell my sisters and had been going through, not only this Easter, but the previous ones and at Christmas, all thanks to the preaching of ministers such as himself.

This minister, actually had told my father, that as neighbors we were wonderful people, but as far as religion went , we were damned to hell. It's a good thing Jews don't believe in hell! Again, it's what they are taught from cradle to grave. The seminary just made matters worse. It was almost like the seminarians were brainwashed further in these beliefs. Well, it was my father's job to take one minister and un-brainwash him, for the sake of his daughters, if for no other reason. This harassment was going to stop, before someone got hurt. And my father explained that in no uncertain terms!.

I don't know how long they talked, but I know it was a very long time because the minister's wife came over looking for him wanting to know if he was ever coming home for dinner. He asked her to please keep his warm, because this was very important and he didn't want to leave just yet.

That Sunday, we were invited to his church. I would never step foot in his church if my life depended on it, and I told my father so. Dad declined, but graciously. Fortunately, we had our own Sunday school to go to. I found out on Monday why we were invited. We were the subject of the Palm Sunday sermon, only this time, it wasn't to berate us, or Jews in general. Surprisingly, my father finally got through to the minister. His sermon was about the truth of the crucifixion, and it was about not blaming 20th century Jews for what happened 2000 years ago. We cannot change what happened in the past, and we cannot take the blame for what the Romans did. Oh yes, he also reminded his congregants, Jesus was a Jew- and boy did that get a lot of tongues wagging! Do you know that people actually thought HE was lying? It's a good thing he knows HIS BIBLE!

So, that's what Easter has meant to me.. No resurrection, no hallelluya, good things... Eastern has meant a lot of torment and humiliation.

Of course, that's all in the past... I have grown up now..

Now for the good:

Easter actually comes during Passover. The Last Supper was a Passover Seder. So, whereas I do not celebrate Easter, I do celebrate Passover, the remembrance of the Jews being liberated from captivity from Egypt and being led to the Holy Lands by Moses, Aaron and Joshua. And, I am proud do say, that my family is a direct lineage from Aaron! And, in case you didn't know, two very famous Biblical people are also directly descended from Aaron- King David and Jesus. That's right everyone, from Father to Son and down the line, My father was directly related by blood to Aaron, King David and Jesus. That's some Family Tree I have there! Which makes it all the most special that I celebrate Passover every year... And also why the first part of this story was all the more important to me.

Are multiple entries okay?

Interesting. smile

My entry~


While Easter is a religious holiday,
there is a less serious side built for the children.
Kids are dressed up in beautiful bright colors
competing with lovely spring herself.
Where I grew up we waited inside
while the "easter bunny" hid the colorful eggs
filled with glorious and tasty treasure.
When the eggs were hidden and children were antsy,
they were finally released to the outside where
the hunt began.
Eggs hidden in plain sight, some hard to detect,
but everyone got some.
Children squealed in delight, parents looked on happily,
to hear their children's cries of happiness.
Peace and happiness was theirs,
even at the cost of lives, or one life,
who was killed, without ever doing a wrong.

I'd do something, but I tend to not have the time this time of year. This is when my school springs tests on me ninja
Good luck everybody. 3nodding