As a strongly identified, shul-going, day-school-tuition-paying Jew, I just want to say:
1. Please wish me "Merry Christmas." I really don't mind it. It's nice.
2. Christmas Carols are wonderful. Especially the ones written by Jews.
3. More baby Jesus, less Santa, please...
1. Please wish me "Merry Christmas." I really don't mind it. It's nice.
2. Christmas Carols are wonderful. Especially the ones written by Jews.
3. More baby Jesus, less Santa, please...
4. I totally agree with the critique of commercialization. That's my critique of Americanized/Xmas-ized Chanukkah.
So more Jesus, more spiritual carols, more lights, more crazy lawn displays.
More dreidel, more latkes, more sufganyot.
Fewer gifts, more charity, more tzedekah.
So more Jesus, more spiritual carols, more lights, more crazy lawn displays.
More dreidel, more latkes, more sufganyot.
Fewer gifts, more charity, more tzedekah.
5. Hanukkah was traditionally a very minor holiday. It was not the Jewish gift-giving holiday. That's Purim.
Hanukkah probably emerged as a Jewish answer to the Roman winter holiday Saturnalia/Kalenda.
Kind of like Christmas's timing.
Wonderful winter festivals of light.
Hanukkah probably emerged as a Jewish answer to the Roman winter holiday Saturnalia/Kalenda.
Kind of like Christmas's timing.
Wonderful winter festivals of light.
6. But I want to say a few words about the rhetoric,"The War on Christmas."
My father grew up Jewish in Alabama. We would visit my Gramma twice a year, usually around Christmas/Hanukkah. I twice overheard strangers loudly complain of the Jewish "War on Christmas."
My father grew up Jewish in Alabama. We would visit my Gramma twice a year, usually around Christmas/Hanukkah. I twice overheard strangers loudly complain of the Jewish "War on Christmas."
7. These angry strangers both asserted that Jews had a conspiracy to take Jesus out of Christmas, replace it with a commercialized Santa in order to make money from Christians, while secularizing America.
I remember one using the phrase "Jewish war on Christmas."
I remember one using the phrase "Jewish war on Christmas."
8. The other one said something along the lines of: "It's like the Jews are trying to kill Jesus all over again, because they couldn't do it the first time."
9. I totally understand why people protest the secularization/commercialization of American culture.
We need more talk about God, tradition, spirituality, and the inherent value of each human life.
But please don't use "War on Christmas" rhetoric to make that point.
We need more talk about God, tradition, spirituality, and the inherent value of each human life.
But please don't use "War on Christmas" rhetoric to make that point.
10. I'm sure many people don't have any anti-Semitic intent in using "War on Christmas" polemics, but everyone needs to understand its background, how many other people do use it with that meaning, and how I and other Jews hear it.
11. And with that, I'll wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
You can do the same for me.
And oh yes, happy birthday, (((Jesus))).
;)
(And 2019 is gonna be lit.) /Fin.
You can do the same for me.
And oh yes, happy birthday, (((Jesus))).
;)
(And 2019 is gonna be lit.) /Fin.
