Joyous Kwanzaa

Newsletter December 26, 2022 Together, we're #keepingitsacred...

As was announced last week, Keeping It Sacred became a member community of the Union for Reform Judaism last week.

Why are we called “Reform”? Because we acknowledge that throughout all time, Judaism has been shifting and changing in ways to preserve our most deeply held values and traditions. We have been reforming and reforming again to breathe new life into our traditions and even creating new ones.

This practice of reforming Judaism is thousands of years old. Notice, early in the first century we shifted from the practice of animal sacrifice in the Temple to lifting up prayers in the synagogue. Notice our celebration of Hanukkah (a holiday that’s not even in the Torah!) has come into widespread practice. Notice the holiday of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) has become a sacrosanct holy day on our calendar. 

Personally, I love how days can become dedicated to principles to remind us to uplift the sacred.

Today begins another holiday that was added to the calendar in modern times and has caught on. It is Kwanzaa, and it has been around since 1966 when Dr. Maulana Karenga drew from Swahili customs and practices to honor various values known as the Nguzo Saba. Information about them can be found HERE and they are: 

Umoja (unity),

Kujichagulia (self-determination),

Ujima (collective work and responsibility),

Ujamaa (cooperative economics),

Nia (purpose),

Kuumba (creativity), and

Imani (faith). 

One of my favorite customs of Kwanzaa is the gift giving. And, what is to be given? Books! Fostering culture and identity and knowledge.

And the saying said before drinking from the unity cup is: “Harambe!” which is the Swahili word for “Let's pull together!” 

So, in the new year, whether we toast “L’chayyim!" or “Harambe!" or both, let’s each find holy days that we admire and respect and honor to help uplift the sacred in our lives and in the world.

Together, we’re #keepingitsacred… 

Rabbi Heather Miller

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

The above is an excerpt from a Keeping It Sacred newsletter. If you want to read the entire newsletter or any from our archives, please head over to: keepingitsacred.com/news

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Thanks for your interest, and thanks for #keepingitsacred…