Yes There IS...

"For those who believe, no proof is necessary.  

For those who don't believe, no proof is possible."

- Stuart Chase

As for me?  I believe.

This week, I am reminded of the Truth - that all things are possible, that magic exists, and that we can.  "We can" what?  We can - anything.

The following is from The New York Sun, 1897.  I've always loved this Christmas editorial:

"WE TAKE PLEASURE IN ANSWERING THUS PROMINENTLY THE

communication below, expressing at the same time our great

gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the

friends of The Sun:

        Dear Editor - 

        I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there

        is no Santa Claus. Papa says, "If you see it in The

        Sun, it's so." Please tell me the truth, is there a

        Santa Claus?

        Virginia O'Hanlon

         115 West Ninety Fifth Street

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected

by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except

they see. They think that nothing can be which is not

comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia,

whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great

universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as

compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by

the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and

knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as 

love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they

abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas!

how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It

would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be

no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable

this existence.

We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The 

external light with which childhood fills the world would be

extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in

fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the

chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you

did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove?

Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no

Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that

neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies

dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they

are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders

there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise

inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not

the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the

strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith,

poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and

picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it real? Ah,

Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! He lives and lives forever. A

thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years

from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."

- "Is There a Santa Claus?" reprinted from the September 21, 

1897, number of The New York Sun.

This year, I was moved by the writing of a nine year old little girl, Basya Fogelman, who read her winning essay aloud at the National Menorah Lighting in Washington, DC.  I was also inspired and encouraged by Rabbi Levi Shemtov's comments, which immediately followed:

“Chanukah means different things to different people.  To little kids, Chanukah means presents.  To adults, Chanukah means spending time with family.  To me, Chanukah means going up.  You might ask, ‘What does that mean?’ The second night of Chanukah is symbolic of elevation or ‘going up’ because every night you add more light by lighting another candle.  So too does a Jew by doing this important mitzvah.  This mitzvah will lead to more.  As our sages say, ‘One good deed leads to another.’  We should try to do more good deeds every day.  It’s important to me to add more light in honor of my grandmother who passed away on the second night of Chanukah many years ago.  My favorite way to add light is to visit old and sick people and light the menorah and sing Chanukah songs with them.  When I do this, I know I am not only elevating myself but my grandmother’s soul too.”  - Basya Fogelman

“In your homes or via the live broadcast, know that you can light a candle too.  Even if you’re not celebrating Chanukah, go warm up somebody’s life.  Go do another good deed.  Go make the world brighter than it would be without you and in that way, you’re celebrating Chanukah too.  Obviously, in the Jewish community we light menorahs, but spreading light, good, and warmth in the world is a universal opportunity and message.”  - Rabbi Levi Shemtov

While the children are teaching us, here is another good find from Sesame Street, about Kwanzaa.  I fondly remember learning all about Kwanzaa when my (then five year old) little sister came home from school and excitedly shared her entire lesson on the holiday with the whole family.

More on Kwanzaa from The History Channel:

Click here for direct link to the above video on History.com (instead of YouTube)

“Just as millions celebrate Irish culture on St. Patty's Day 
and Mexican culture on Cinco de Mayo, 
Kwanzaa has grown to fulfill Dr. Karenga's vision.  
The vision that people of all stripes celebrate the 
African culture and spirit.”
- History.com

This holiday season, I'll keep in mind what the children have taught me.  I will be warmed by the purity of love in their hearts and by the magic and spirit of family that fills the air.  I will be reminded:

Life is simple.  Choose Love.  Choose Joy.  Follow the Magic.  Follow the Light.  

Be Love.  Be Joy.  Be Magic.  Be Light.

May we all have a joyous holiday season.  May we love and appreciate each other for our uniqueness, for the variations and different traditions within our brotherhood and for the common bond which connects and unites all of us. 

Happy Holidays!

Namaste, 

T