SPECIAL COMMENTARY

What's Jewish About Mother's Day?

T

ings. As you choose the rituals that you
will enact this Mother's Day — flowers,
he. American holiday of
dinner, phone call, card — consider the
Mother's Day began in the
ways in which you can deepen the cele-
late- 49th century. Some say
bration through these reflections:
it began in Michigan, oth-
1. Meditate or reflect for a moment on
ers in West Virginia. In both states,
each of the following words and how
there were women who felt that a day
of acknowledging motherhood wo-al-4-. , , , they connect you to your mother:
spark a moral revival. In 1914, Moth- - • protection
er's Day became an American national
• independence
holiday and, shortly after, it started
• guidance
• nurturing
being celebrated around the world. -
Long before that, though, the Jew- '• 2. For those of us whose mothers are
ish people stood at the foot of a desert tic) longer with us, Mother's Day is a
time to remember and to mark the life
mountain and heard the Divine words
and dreams of our mothers. Take time
"Honor your mother and father" spo-
to reflect on the legacy that your
ken as part of the Ten Command-
mother has left behind and the ways
ments. Some would say that that day
in which your life continues the values
was the first Mother's Day (and
that she lived by.
Father's Day, too).
Our tradition is filled with rever-
3. Mother's Day is also a time of reflec-
tion for mothers themselves. No text,
ence for mothers: "My child ... do not
traditional or contemporary, can capture
walk away from the wisdom of your
the experience of all mothers, but here
mother, for it will be a sign of grace
are two Jewish texts on which you
upon your head." (Proverbs 1:8-9)
might reflect to mark this day:
When you think "Jewish mothers,"
"Let my soul be in all things like
two thoughts might pop into your
the earth ... She is generous; she nur-
mind. First come the Four Matriarchs
tures and clothes all creation; she gives
— Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah
space to let others build their homes
— all women who experienced strug-
and adorn themselves; she showers all
gle and heartbreak as they overcame
with untold wonders." (Korban Minha
life's obstacles.
Second come the old jokes: "I'd
Siddur, Vilna 1910)
... she surveys a field and buys it,
rather sit in the dark," "My son, the
she plants a vineyard with her hands;
doctor," "Oedipus shmedipus, at least
she radiates strength, her arms flexed;
he loves his mother ..."
-
she stretches her hand to the needy ...
Yet somewhere between the worlds
she opens her mouth with wisdom, a
of piety and comedy, Jewish mothers
Torah of kindness is on her lips ..."
are the women who have nurtured,
(adapted from Proverbs 31)
instructed, supported and challenged
us. So hearts and flowers don't go far
4. Consider taking some time this
enough. To honor mothers "Jewishly"
Mother's Day to go through the pho-
tographs or other mementos that you
is to celebrate the real women whose
have of your children's lives.
love and wisdom guide us.
CLAL-The National Jewish Center
for Learning and Leadership has under-
This was written by the fruity of CLAL
— The National Jewish Center for
taken a project to infuse American holi-
Learning and Leadership.
day traditions with deeply Jewish mean-

New York

,•
Aft,NA••••.•,,
•

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OLDN6H

In Europe early in World War II,
opinion was by no means completely
opposed to the idea of a Nazi Europe
or an imaginary Europe based on race.
Elements of that view continue
today in the new Europe, and similar
utopian dreams and national/racial
visions are alive in the former Soviet
Union, Africa and in East and South
Asia. The world is different than yes-
terday, but the world has not changed
completely. Capitalism spreads
unevenly globally — creating, liberat-

ing and empowering, but also dislodg-
ing and uprooting. Visions of bigoted
nationalism and dark anxieties about
mixing with strangers compete uneasi-
ly with more cosmopolitan ideas
about humanity and brotherhood.
On a day like this then, we say, and
insist, that the Holocaust is a caution-
ary tale about what modern states and
humans can do — and that others can
permit to happen. By study and
remembrance, we express a faith and
hope that we will find ways to stand
against such occurrences and for
humanity in the future.

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