A few years ago, a friend of mine from elementary school invited me to her Hanukkah Open House. Thrilled by the offer and even more enthusiastic to see her again after so long, I began to research suitable gifts for such an occasion.
Opting for a bottle of wine, I ventured out to her home in anticipation of seeing friends from the old neighbourhood. As I entered the foyer of her home just outside Toronto, warm smells and lively chatter of a full house ignited my eagerness and soon the hostess appeared – hardly aged since elementary school.
Suddenly, familiar faces began to arrive and soon a handful from the Rexdale, were standing in the kitchen, chatting about nothing in particular. It’s funny how years can pass, bellies get softer, hairs become grey and yet the warm faces from the community remain timeless.
A circle had formed and my eyes flitted around. Muslims, Italians, Canadians and myself – the Caribbean Hindu, and of course our hostess who was the only Jewish person in our neighbourhood back in the day. A small group, but a microcosm of our community. The good old days.
Nowadays when I take the subway to work, I notice the group of young adults as they congregate together on their commute. The picture is always the same, because they are always the same. Groups of Caucasians, groups of Asians, groups of South Asians. In many cases, they are speaking different languages. But one thing is clear – they never form a diverse pack.
The word diversity wasn’t common back in our day. I’m not sure that we even considered ourselves a multicultural group. We were just a group of kids from immigrant families from all over the world, trying to fit into a new society. We formed tight friendships, shared our cultures and today that connection remains tight.
Of all the guests at the Hanukkah party, I would guess that only a small handful were Jewish. Many were from various backgrounds and religions, but I expected that from my friend. It’s the same gesture as the invitation I received to visit the Church on the Queensway where another school friend is an Assistant Pastor. I’m disappointed to have missed the Christmas performances but I’m making a point to attend the ones at Easter.
As I reconnect with school friends from Rexdale this holiday season, I feel our bond becoming stronger. Perhaps it’s because the world has become a different place since we graduated 30 years ago. Perhaps we share the same gratitude of growing up in a sliver of time just before the divide of cultures began – a small representation of peace in the world. Isn’t that what the season is about?