December 16, 2009 | 2:11 pm

Keeping The Faith

Posted by Ilana Angel

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If you could change anything about yourself what would it be?  Would you be taller, richer, thinner or perhaps younger?  While I have been known to make a list of what I will spend my lottery winnings on, I rarely think about what I would change about myself.  I suppose it’s because at this point in my life I think it’s easier to win the lottery than it is to change.

If I actually had the ability to change something, I could make a list of at least 100 things that I would physically alter and by 100 of course I mean I would be able to create a list with about 23651 things on it.  It would be impossible to pick just one so let’s move on to non-physical items.

I would want change how sensitive I am.  The smallest thing can make me cry and hurt my feelings.  It can be anything from a commercial for Kleenex, to an unkind word from a friend, to a look of disappointment from my son when he is upset with me.  I literally burst into tears at the drop of a hat.

Yesterday my blog was about Jews having Christmas trees for the holidays.  It was just my opinion.  I wrote that everyone was free to do what they wanted in their homes.  I mentioned that I grew up with a Christmas tree in my house as a kid.  I don’t think it was particularly judgmental, just my two cents on a topic that I did not know was so sensitive to people.

If it is written in the Torah that Jews celebrate the holidays with a Christmas tree, then I ask that you send me where I can find that.  Furthermore, if you can find the place where it states that Jews are not allowed to have a Christmas tree, then please, do send me that too.  I was just sharing my thoughts.  That’s what I do.  This is a blog written by me.

A friend of mine was so offended by my blog that she decided to have her children, who my son counts among his best friends, un-friend me on Facebook.  It’s ridiculous and silly and childish and high school mean girl crap and what it did was simple.  It made me cry.

I appreciate that not everyone is going to like what I write or agree with it and that is fine.  I would hope that if people take issue with my blog they would write me on my blog not plaster their feelings on my Facebook page.  My feelings are hurt and it’s a shame because in the big scheme of things, this is beyond a silly thing to hurt my feelings.

I worry that my son will now somehow have consequences for my blog and for that I am sorry for him.  All will be fine and life will go on.  This will eventually not hurt my feelings anymore and hopefully any feelings that I hurt will also heal and none of it will matter in the long run.

I meant no offence to anyone, I still believe that Christmas trees for Jews makes no sense and at the end of the day all I can do is toughen up, not take it all so seriously and keep the faith.