By Setarreh Massihzadegan
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

This month, the people who live at Brooksby Village have plenty of reasons to stay home for the holidays, as the community lights up with a multitude of musical and interfaith events. Between family visits and gift shopping, residents mark their calendars for tree trimming, bell ringing, and caroling on campus.

Spirited community
While the Brooksby community includes people of many different faiths and traditions, all are welcome at the host of holiday celebrations.

“It’s exciting—when Christmas comes, whether you’re Christian or not, there’s a spirit that  permeates the entire community,” says Miriam Portman, who lives at Brooksby and is of Jewish faith. “We celebrate all of the holidays together with great respect. That’s a wonderful thing,” she adds.

Brooksby’s chapel is a secular space, and while it may house musical groups and services dedicated to specific faiths, all events are open to everyone. Many community members, including Portman, say they have taken interest in and attended activities for faiths other than their own.

“We are a lesson in tolerance here,” Portman says.

Joyful music
The various holiday celebrations at Brooksby begin the first week of December with a tree trimming in each of the three clubhouses. Residents gather to decorate the tree and listen to live music, including the sounds of the Brooksby Village Bell Ringers.

“It’s joyful . . . for both the listeners and the people performing,” says the Bell Ringers’ director, Jean Ressler.

In addition to appearing at the tree trimming event, the 12-member Bell Ringers group will “Ring in the Holidays” on December 3 with a concert of holiday music.

The Brooksby Singers will fill the chapel with carols and songs from various faiths on December 10. And for the first time, the community’s Protestant Choir, conducted by Ted Good, will perform a Christmas cantata, The Promise of a King, on December 14.