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“Do Jewish People Celebrate St. Patrick's Day?
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D’var Kesher
March 17, 2017/ 19 Adar, 5777
Parashat Ki Tisa/Exodus 30:11-34:35
Greetings!
That was a question I was asked several times this week.
Like many Jewish holidays, St. Patrick’s Day carries both religious and cultural dimensions. It is held on March 17th, the death date attributed to the foremost patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, 385- 461 C.E. But celebrations also involve parades, festivals, and as we all know, the wearing of shamrocks, or green clothing. More recently, it also means eating and drink green food such as beer, and yes, bagels.
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So, do Jewish people celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?
The short answer is no, not usually, since it is a Catholic based holiday. But it turns out that at one time, for one group of Jewish Irish immigrants to America, there was green matzah ball soup. Here is what I learned from an NPR article (aired in 2013):
“…50 years ago, [St. Patrick’s Day] also meant green matzo balls at the annual banquet of the Loyal League of Yiddish Sons of Erin. The league was a fraternal organization of Irish-born Jews…"Getting together it was like a family, it was a party. Somebody would take out a harmonica and start playing, and they'd all start singing. It was really a hoot," she says. "There's nothing quite like listening to Yiddish spoken with [an Irish accent]."
Apparently, the group's biggest event was the annual Erev St. Patrick's Day Banquet. It was a formal gala at the Americana Hotel, complete with a big band, kosher corned beef and green bagels…
More specifically, we know from historic documents that the banquet served:
" 'Green bagels,' assured Michael Mann, president of the Loyal League of Yiddish Sons of Erin. 'They're good if you acquire a taste for them. We're kosher Irish.'
"What's more there will be prime beef O'Malley, Litvak chopped liver and kishka a la Killarney on the menu Saturday night at the sixth annual 'gathering of the clan' — the Irish-Jewish clan in Manhattan.
" 'It's pretty much a sort of celebration for the common heritage of the two ancient civilizations
— Irish and Jewish,' explained Mann, a Jew whose father was a harnessmaker in Dublin.
" 'Now in our adopted land, we celebrate the fruits of our friendship,' Mann said. ...” (Associated Press, The Nevada Daily Mail, 1967)
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The major migration of Jews to Ireland started in the 1880s and '90s, says Hasia Diner, a social historian at New York University, where she also served as an advisor to my dissertation about the productive role that cross-denominational Jewish day schools play as Jewish Americans engage in daily cultural straddling, as Jews and Americans, simultaneously.
Diner says thousands of Irish Jews moved, primarily from Lithuania. The first generation of Irish Jews mostly worked as peddlers. But by the 20th century, peddlers became business owners.
So what’s going on here? Is this a blurring of boundaries, and a dangerous act of religious or cultural syncretism that poses a threat to the integrity of Jewish life?
I don't believe so. Most people aren't used to seeing this sort of Irish pride among Jews. But Diner says that even though Ireland is a Catholic country, there really wasn't a conflict.
"The Irish Constitution states we extend friendship and equality to the Hebrew congregation. So in a way, it's a comment on the kind of integration that this small Jewish community had achieved in Ireland," she says. "And there were a number of key individual Jews who played a role in the Irish struggle for independence."
The kosher bagel place in the neighborhood where I used to live in Los Angeles always made green bagels the week of St. Patrick’s Day. Even though green bagels look pretty gross to me, I always appreciated that intersection between the multiple worlds and cultural histories in which I resided. I always appreciated doing the dance of cultural straddling in ways that do not compromise our integrity. On the contrary, this is precisely the challenging but exciting, creative and meaningful identity work we practice at CJDS every day.
Shabbat O'Shalom!
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Why CJDS?
Alumna parent, Miriam Segaloff recently reflected about, "Why CJDS."
"To be honest, we chose Columbus Jewish Day School because we needed all-day kindergarten for our daughter. What we found was so much more and by the end of that first year, we were completely hooked. While we had initially planned to stay for just one year, we just couldn't bear to pull our daughter away. Every day she looked forward to going to school and finding out what was going to happen next. I don't know if it was the individualized attention, the warm bonds she developed with her teachers and friends or an atmosphere that nurtured, encouraged and rewarded her natural curiosity. Whatever it was, she was driven to be at CJDS. Over the years, this little school gave her so much more than a sound fundamental education.She developed a true passion for the Hebrew language, Judaics and all things Israel. She learned to question and connect the pieces of the world around her. She grew from a child who literally hid from the spotlight to a young woman proud to compete as a member of her high school speech and debate team. By the time she graduated, we felt confident that we could send her into the world with a strong sense of herself, her history and her culture. We can honestly say she moved on from CJDS with a vision of what the future could be and the tools and skills to make it a reality."
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Miriam Segaloff Alumna Parent
(Pictured above CJDS Alum na, Samantha Segaloff CJDS class of 2012.
Photo credit: Miriam Segaloff)
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As of 3-17-17, we've updated our calendar. For the most up-to-date version of our calendar and a full list of CJDS events:
CLICK HERE!
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Starting in March, please stop by Wednesday mornings, just after drop-off for coffee and conversation with Rabbi Z, 8:30am - 9:00am. This weekly event is an informal chance to think out loud and share reflections and ideas you may have about the school. It's also a chance to discuss topics of interest facing education and Jewish living today.
Next Cup of C-Joe-D-S March 22
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SAVE THE DATE
Friday, May 19: Annual CJDS Butterfly Release
Tuesday, May 23: CJDS 6th Grade Graduation 7:00-8:30pm Allison Goldberg Senser Gymnasium
Friday, March 31 All School Kabbalat Shabbat 1:40-2:20pm (6th grade leads) Allison Goldberg Senser Gymnasium
APRIL
Friday, April 7 All School Kabbalat Shabbat 5th grade leads (1:40-2:20pm Allison Goldberg Senser Gymnasium)
Monday, April 24: Yom HaShoah 8:45-9:15am (3rd-6th grades)
Friday, April 28 All School Israel Kabbalat Shabbat led by Neta Ben Ezra (1:40-2:20pm Allison Goldberg Senser Gymnasium)
Monday, April 10 - Tuesday April 18
Pesah
(Passover) Break NO SCHOOL OFFICES CLOSED
Wednesday, April 19 Classes Resume
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CJDS is collecting Box Tops for Education. This is an easy way to earn money for our school!
Box Tops are pink rectangles generally found on the packages of Annie's snacks, General Mills cereals, Kleenex boxes, Ziploc products, Lysol products, and more.
The school receives money for each one, so start clipping and send them in!
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Art to Remember
Keep your eyes out for Art to Remember order forms coming home next week.
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This school fundraiser consists of the children completing artwork with Susan at school. Then an order form will be sent home, and you will be able to order different keepsakes such as key chains, lunch boxes, mugs, t-shirts, and more featuring your child's artwork. A percentage of the profits will benefit CJDS.
Order forms will come home next week and payments are due on April 7, 2017.
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Pictured below: This week the 1st and 2nd graders welcomed Peter from PT Reptiles of Ohio.
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Pictured above Kindergarteners traced around their own bodies to create these festive Purim characters.
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Pictured above: Children cut out images of food to sort in to different categories of food groups.
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Last Week's Purim Carnival!
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The 3rd grade has been studying Japan. This week, they celebrated their studies with a Japanese tea Ceremony.
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6th Grade
Spirit Week was a great fundraising success!
Thank you for helping them raise
$334.18
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Kindergarten: Stefanie Zelkind
Grade 1-2: Rayna Weiner and Adam Davis
Grade 3: Merav Dill and Bat-Ami Moses
Grade 4: Maggie Saracheck and Sara Zeigler
Grade 5: Alan Bassik
Grade 6: Ruth Rubin and Jennifer Wasserstrom
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We have daily opportunities to help support our Hot Lunch Program.
Lunch volunteers help set up and serve our catered hot lunch.
Sign Up Today!
Monday - Friday from 11:30-12:30
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May Their Memory Be a Blessing...
We want to know about the life cycle events in your family!
Remember CJDS in your tributes to honor these meaningful events. If you’d like to make a donation, please click here.
CJDS Tribute Cards
CJDS Tribute Cards provide a thoughtful and caring gift for everyone. The income generated by every purchase enhances a child's educational experience at CJDS. You can get the All-Occasion pack year-round. It includes five pre-printed memorial cards and five pre-printed special event cards for only $90. You can also make an individual tribute gift and we will send a Tribute card to the recipient. Tribute cards require seven business days for delivery.
To donate by phone or place a Tribute card order, please email or call our Development Officer Julie Jacobson (jjacobson@cjds.org) at 614-939-5311 extension 3119.
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We Collect Boxtops
Help us reach our goal this year of $1000.00
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AmazonSmile
When you shop at
smile.amazon.com
, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to CJDS.
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The Rewards Add Up
Have you linked CJDS to your Kroger Plus card or Giant Eagle Advantage Card?
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March 25
Join Temple Israel's Rosh Hodesh Group with guest scholar, Rabbi Dr. Tali Zelkowicz
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Baked Goods Delivered to the Classroom
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Hooray for Challah!
Welcome to the 2016-17 School Year! Once again, we are fortunate for the opportunity to order weekly challahs and baked goods from Matt’s Bakery. It is as easy as "pie" to place your orders. All you need to do is go to the Matts Bakery website to see a full listing of all of their delicious items. All challah and or baked goods will be delivered on Fridays to your child’s classroom.
Have questions? Call or email Matt's directly:
info@matt’sbakery.com or (614) 237-4848
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Order your CJDS Apparel today!
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We have several events and opportunities for you to come to the school. Take a look at our school calendar of events
HERE.
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