Like other Jewish communities around the world, Nafshenu has just finished celebrating the festival of lights and freedom — Hanukkah. Another lies two months ahead when we observe the holiday of Purim and the victor of Esther and Mordechai over a powerful enemy in ancient Persia.

And one week from today, America and much of the world celebrates Christmas — a holiday making the birth of Jesus and the hope of messianic redemption that he represents for 2 billion Christians on our planet.

Jewish feelings about this holiday have been mixed over the centuries, with many of our ancestors seeing the holiday as a reminder of our “otherness” and separation from the wider world. For some, it has highlighted awareness of the danger of being different and the precariousness of being part of a minority group.

But so much has changed in America over its relatively brief 245-year history. Our experience today gives us reason to take a different look at Christmas than did our ancestors who lived in Easern Europe and elsewhere in the Christian world. We have found a home.

Despite pockets of prejudice or discrimination, Jews in America find themselves respected and accepted — not only despite but often because of our Jewishness. Barriers of residence and employment have fallen left and right, and we and our children experience opportunities that Jews have never known at any other time in history.

As the walls of prejudice have fallen, we have formed close bonds of friendship and love with those from the majority Christian society. Nothing shows this better than our own Nafshenu community, with its large proportion of Jewish-Christian families.

As a product of a Jewish-Christian family myself, I was able to experience the joys of Christmas playing with cousins under my grandparents’ Christmas tree. I came to love the rituals the carols, the popcorn stringing — and did I mention, the presents?

So unlike those Jews of years and centuries past, we in Nafshenu can open our hearts and spirits to the seasonal joy around us. For those Nafshenu members who identify as Jews, I invite us to join with love and appreciation to the Christmas spirit around us. Let us return acceptance and love with acceptance and love. And for those Nafshenu members of Christian heritage, I offer a blessing - may this happy, holy season bring you joy, connection and love.

Merry Christmas to all!