Sylvester Who?

Now that we’ve survived Hanukkah and the grease-fest of jelly donuts and potato latkes we might expect an enjoyable, uncomplicated New Year’s Eve. I mean, at this time who couldn’t use a drink? But no. In Israel it’s officially forbidden and unofficially celebrated and herein lies the rub.

New Year’s Eve is called Sylvester in Israel as it supposedly is somewhere in central or eastern Europe. This story is spread by word of mouth: the reason it’s forbidden is that it’s named after a Christian saint who may or may not have also been Pope and therefore the rabbis will not allow the celebration. My solution is simple…rename it! Call it New Year’s like everywhere else and problem solved.

Before I came to Israel I had only heard of two Sylvesters, Stallone and the cartoon-cat nemesis of Tweetie Pie. Beyond the name issue, the real problem is that the holiday is unofficial. That means you still have to work on New Year’s Day which for people like me means there’ll be no ringing-in the New Year at midnight. Of course, most people just take the day off. Whole departments are gone from the kibbutz enterprises leaving only a smattering of kibbutzniks here and there working like the drudges we are.

It’s unfair. More than that, Israel needs and deserves one holiday that we can celebrate with the rest of the world. The Jewish New Year is heavy with the consciousness of sin and prayers to the Almighty to be allowed to live for one more year. But the secular New Year is just fun, a party to lavish good wishes on friends and family, and celebrating it should constitute no threat to the Jewish soul or the rabbis. One secular holiday should not be too much to ask.

Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous 2009!