Just hung up on by screener at Mike Gallagher show

The talk show host Mike Gallagher is currently discussing how outraged he was when a woman corrected his "Merry Christmas" greeting to her, telling him she "would prefer a 'Happy Holidays' greeting". I also prefer a "Happy Holidays" greeting because his original greeting would not be appropriate to me. I called the show to tell the call screener this (I NEVER call in to radio shows!). I was very respectful and told the call screener that I didn't even need to go on the air, but just wanted to get my opinion across. She took my name. As soon as I said I didn't even need to go on the air, I just wanted him to be aware of my opinion, I heard the phone on her end hung up without a single word. I couldn't believe it.

Meanwhile, Gallagher and a lot of his callers are saying that they feel they should say "Merry Christmas" to everyone and the heck with what the other party thinks. I think that is outrageously ethnocentric, sorry. This is a nation of nations and other peoples' peaceful beliefs should be respected. If you KNOW that the other person is a Jew, you should not wish them a happy [holiday that is not part of their religion]. Might as well tell a Buddhist or a Sikh "Merry Christmas". It would have as much meaning. I also feel that it is a subtle call to conform to the majority.

I'm sure that many years of blatant antisemitism toward me somewhat colors my attitude. In the public schools I attended as a child in the Midwest, I was publicly singled out by the teacher for not singing carols along with the other students in December music classes, and given a negative behavioral notation. I had other students scream at me in December and April that "you killed J.C.!" That was as predictable as the swallows returning to Capistrano. There was a huge push to conform and observe the rituals of Christianity. Judaism or simply being different was not given any consideration.

I do not want to be lumped into one big group. I do not want to have to duck under "The Great Leveler" rather than stick out. Never have, never will.

I have even less respect for Mike Gallagher and his staff now than I even did before.

“Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

“Oooops! sorry, what I should have said is........ Happy Holidays!

“Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all... and a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2017, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great (not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country or is the only “America” in the Western hemisphere), and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, or sexual orientation of the wishee.

“This wish is limited to the customary and usual good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first.”Holiday” is not intended to, nor shall it be considered, limited to the usual Judeo-Christian celebrations or observances, or to such activities of any organized or ad hoc religious community, group, individual or belief (or lack thereof).

“DISCLAIMER: By accepting this greeting, you are accepting the following terms: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher at any time, for any reason or for no reason at all. This greeting is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. This greeting implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for the wishee, him/herself or others, or responsibility for the consequences which may arise from the implementation or non-implementation of same.

“This greeting is void where prohibited by law.

“Not valid in KY, CA, or District of Columbia”

Just noticed on my calendar that Hanukkah and Christmas are on the same day this year. Does this happen very often?

What’s the deal with Hanukkah? Is it one of those week long holidays? I can’t look it up right now as I shouldn’t even be typing this. So it starts on the 25th and ends ????

And there is lighting of candles and small gifts, right? Any dietary restrictions? I love it when one of the Jewish holidays come around that have dietary restrictions. My boss’s wife sends me a lot of food from her pantry and she buys really good stuff I don’t usually have. And it’s all fresh because she cleans out every year. I just ran across a jar of poultry seasoning in my cupboard that had the year 1982 stamped on it in teeny tiny letters.

Hope you can relax into these coming weeks and see all the good things that surround us. Think of it as a token or coin. On one side one can see all these morons hyped up trying to get the next parking space, but turn the token over and you see a stressed-out soul just trying to show their love to a beloved.

Happy holidays!

Just noticed on my calendar that Hanukkah and Christmas are on the same day this year. Does this happen very often?

The Jewish calendar is a lunar calendar whereas the calendar used by the rest of the U.S. is the Gregorian calendar, based on the sun. So, sometimes by coincidence, Jewish and non-Jewish holidays coincide. That doesn't mean that they are related in purpose or origin, it's just a calendar coincidence.

I am quoting excerpts here from a very well written article from a religious Jewish newsletter.

Chanukah was established to commemorate the very opposite of cultural assimilation. It dates back nearly 22 centuries, to the successful Jewish revolt against Antiochus IV, one of the line of Syrian-Greek monarchs who ruled the northern branch of Alexander the Great's collapsed empire. Alexander had been respectful of the Jews' monotheistic religion, but Antiochus was determined to impose Hellenism, with its pagan gods and its cult of the body, throughout his domains. When he met resistance in Judea, he made Judaism illegal.

Sabbath observance, circumcision, and the study of Torah were banned on pain of death. A statue of Zeus was installed in the Temple in Jerusalem, and swine were sacrificed before it. Prostitutes were brought in to have relations upon the holy altar itself. Some Jews embraced the new order and willingly abandoned the G-d and faith of their ancestors. Those who wouldn't were cruelly punished. Ancient writings tell the story of Hannah and her seven sons, who were captured by Antiochus's troops and commanded to bow to an idol. One by one, each boy refused -- and was tortured to death before his mother's eyes.

The fight to reclaim Jewish religious autonomy began in 167 BC. An elderly priest named Mattathias refused a Syrian order to sacrifice to an idol. When an apostate Jew stepped forward to comply, Mattathias killed the man and tore down the altar. Then he and his five sons took to the hills and launched a guerrilla war against the armies of the empire.

When Mattathias died, his third son, Judah Maccabee, took command. He and his band of fighters were impossibly outnumbered, yet they won one miraculous victory after another. In 164 BC, they recaptured the Temple, which they cleansed and purified and rededicated to God. On the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, the menorah -- the candelabra symbolizing the divine presence -- was rekindled. For eight days, throngs of Jews celebrated the Temple's restoration. "All the people prostrated themselves," records the book of Maccabees, "worshipping and praising Heaven that their cause had prospered." In truth, though, their cause hadn't prospered -- not yet. The fighting went on for years. It was not until 142 BC that the Jews regained control of their land.

The holiday lasts for 8 days because there was only a one-day supply of consecrated oil left unsullied by the Romans in the Temple. It was a 4 day journey each way to the next town where consecrated oil might be found. So G-d performed a miracle and made the one-day supply of oil last until a new supply could reach the Temple.

As this article so eloquently explains, "...Chanukah used to be regarded as a minor half-holiday, cheerful but low-key. It has become something bigger and brighter in response to Christmas, which transforms each December into a brilliant winter festival of parties, decorations, and music. Attracted by the joy of the season, not wanting their children to feel left out of all the merriment and gift-giving, American Jews in the 20th century began to make much more of Chanukah than their grandparents ever had."

So Chanukah is NOT the Jewish version of Christmas; its origins are quite different. It has no Sabbath-like restrictions or dietary restrictions. You have to kindle the appropriate number of candles or oil wicks in your menorah, one additional one each nightt. It is traditional to serve potato pancakes (Ashkenazic custom) or sufganiyot (jelly filled delicious donuts - Sephardic custom), both of which incorporate OIL in their preparation and thus harken back to the miracle of the oil. It is traditional to spin a top called a dreidel which has the Hebrew letters nun, gimmel, hey, shin ― the first letters of "A Great Miracle Happened There" in Hebrew.

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