In 1963 – the year my parents met – Brooklyn was a mosaic of ethnicities, its population heavily Jewish and Italian. Both groups had arrived in droves earlier in the century, passing through Ellis Island in search of a better life. I have a copy of the ship’s manifest that lists my 4-year-old grandfather, Francesco Mannino, as a passenger on the Mendoza, which left Palermo in July 1912, just months after the sinking of the Titanic. My Jewish ancestors came slightly earlier, heeding the warning signs during the Pogroms in the Pale of Settlement in Eastern Europe.
With such interwoven histories, it’s no surprise that I grew up an Italian Jew, born to an Italian Catholic father and a Jewish mother. Religion in our house was a matter of gentle contention as was the Mets-Yankees dichotomy, but my mother’s faith ultimately won out. I was raised Jewish, yet Catholicism was never far away. My Italian grandparents’ influence was ubiquitous; I would even attend mass with my nonna on occasion. Their home showcased many artifacts—crucifixes on the walls and portraits of Jesus alongside their other decorations. And in December, their house transformed into a wonderland, with colorful lights illuminating the exterior and a big beautiful Christmas tree inside.
This blending of traditions created memories that feel uniquely mine. I remember one grandmother’s matzo ball soup and the other’s spaghetti and meatballs. One household displayed mezuzahs and menorahs, while the other showcased crucifixes and rosary beads. These symbols of culture and faith coexisted in my life, embodying the values of love, family, and tradition that transcended religion.
The December holidays were the clearest example of this unity. Christmas carols commingled with the blessings over Hanukkah candles, potato latkes one day and the seven fishes the next created a season of joy and gratitude. For me, the holiday season was never about choosing one faith over another but about celebrating the shared humanity of both religions. This time of year compels us to focus not on what divides us but on what unites us: generosity, kindness, and the deep connections we hold with one another. Across faiths and cultures, the light of this season highlights a shared hope for peace and understanding. And in that, we find not just tolerance but harmony —a testament to the beauty that can result when traditions meet, respect each other and thrive together.
