Happy New Year, again!

I love being Asian and Jewish. I get amazing food, great laughs, and tons of holidays. Speaking of holidays, Lunar New Year is coming up. I love how I get three new years being Asian and Jewish – Lunar, Gregorian, and Rosh Hashanah. It’s extra opportunities to get a fresh start and manifest getting on a game show. Wheel of Fortune, I’m still waiting to spin… 

Anywho, Lunar New Year lands on February 17 this year, and it ends the year of the snake and starts the year of the horse. The snake is a time of “shedding” and going through changes. Man, going through changes have been rough especially when it feels like it’s changes in the direction of schmasicm. Also, the horse is full of energy and I’m a fire sign – I am all for full steam ahead. With horses, they are very therapeutic, so I’m thinking it’s a year of emotional intuition. Going with your gut like a horse and charging forward into organizing for those in need. 

Blending my Asian and Jewish lenses, I also researched what week of the Torah we will be in. It is Exodus 25:1-27:19, when the Terumah opens as G-d tells Moses to collect donated materials – like the ark, table, menorah – and the walls and curtains to make the Mishkan. With both the Torah portion on creating ritual items and the Lunar New Year rituals of setting lanterns and cleaning the house, it is a time of sacred interior decorating – jokes but not jokes! 

As the Jewish calendar and certain Asian calendars run by the power of the cheeseball in the sky (the moon), Tuesday, February 17 is also the beginning of a new Jewish calendar month. It’s a moment not only to tap into a new start tenfold, but it’s a moment for new conversations. Like talking to your alderperson, state representative, and other government representatives to show your intention for this year; that we the people stand up for the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, rights to due process, rights to immigrate, and that we in Chicago stand for our identity as a sanctuary city. 

I know that my Lunar New Year goal is to tap into the tenacity of the wild horse. I feel hopeful that the year of the horse will bring us together as a pack and push forward for positive change. Gong xi fat choy!