By Kayed Khalil
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FRAMINGHAM – Our similarities are what always shine through and especially around the holiday season, ours, yours, and mine.
I grew up celebrating my Muslim holidays and my wife grew up celebrating her Jewish holidays.
So just like the millions of Christians who are celebrating Christmas, we all grow up celebrating joy, happiness, fun, family, food, being loving and enjoying being kind to each other.
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Whether growing up celebrating Muslim holidays or over the years watching people celebrate other holidays, I have always been amazed how nice, loving and kind people are around the holidays. I have always wondered since I was a child why don’t people continue to be kind, loving and nice after the holidays? Let that sink in. Imagine what a wonderful world it could be, if we just continue to be kind and grateful beyond the holidays.
ONE of my wishes this year is the same as every year, I wish I am always reminded to choose the loving and kindness, especially when it is not easy. I tell my children: I am a human I am not perfect. We are all human beings and not perfect, and because of this I am always reminded that what goes with humanity is making mistakes.
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I know it does not happen overnight, but when we are kind and loving to each other we can start to make this world a better place for all of us. So, this year my goal is to extend the loving and kindness beyond the holidays. I am going to see how long I can make the feeling last.
The challenge will always be about how to choose joy, happiness, fun, gratefulness, loving and being kind to each other not just around the holidays but throughout the year, like every day was Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Eid-Al-Fitr or whatever holiday you celebrate.
What a gift it would be to oneself, and all of us. Every day is a gift and full of possibilities…, it a choice “
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Temple Beth Am 
SMILE Mass