To: The folks who aren't satisfied that Christmas saturates our stores, our airwaves, our streetcorners, our lampposts, our malls, and our brains from late August through January, and are pitching a fit whenever someone utters the greeting "Happy Holidays!"
From: A Jewish man who grew up in a small town where he was the only Jew his age; where there were no bar mitzvahs between his brother's (in 1970) and his (in 1978); where public school teachers admonished him when he declined to sing religious hymns (e.g., "Silent Night") by telling him that they knew plenty of Jews who sang them; where a gym teacher once took him aside and asked, earnestly puzzled, how anyone could not believe Jesus was the Messiah;
I have two words for you:
HAPPY
HOLIDAYS!
2 comments:
Go Danny! I will never understand how not actively partaking in someone else's quasi-religious rituals equates to oppressing their religion. And for those who claim "We wouldn't have Christmas without Christ," well, you might want to notice that not everyone who celebrates on Dec. 25 does it in the name of baby Jesus. Some of us take your national holiday as a nearby stand-in for winter solstice: a nice, easily observable natural phenomenon that brings everyone who enjoys daylight a reason for cheer.
So Happy Solstice, everybody, and may your longer days be merry and bright.
I have always been extremely proud of my Judaism. It was like being in your own club.
Chanuka has receive more exposure this year because of it's juxtaposition with Christmas. Did you know that know there is some thought that the oil story is folklore and it was added because of anti-war feelings (Chanuka celibrate military victory)
Also lighting candles co-exist with the theory of returning light. Which both holidays commenorate. An article by one Rabi suggests it was a late Succot.
Chanuka is not the principal Jewish holiday, but since it is around Christmas time, it became a way for Jewish parents to give gifts like their Christian friends.
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