I have lived in Manhattan for over 40 years now (as well as NJ) and have never heard one Jewish friend or acquaintance say that Christmas was a “constant irritant” to them. In fact, they have always wished me Merry Christmas and I have always bought chocolate gelt for their children at Hanukkah. That's one of the beauties of America and living in a vast, thriving city. And I don't know where you get the idea that “blue laws” are solely a Republican idea. We still have blue laws in Manhattan and while, again, I've never, ever heard a Jew complain about them, I also know that this long-time Democratic city probably enacted those laws and/or has done nothing to get rid of them. Neither Jew nor Catholic can buy booze on Sunday here!
The things people complain about in this great country! Snowflakes, all.
I suppose that given the pressures of professional school, the chronic exhaustion, and that we were close friends enduring the almost impossible, that they let their guard down and let me know how they really felt. Please remember that the school was open during their holidays and they had to make up that work which was a **serious** burden.
And....Wow! NYC has blue laws. I am surprised to learn of this. I had no idea.
Finally, I am sorry that I gave the impression that Republics alone were responsible for blue laws. Obviously, they weren't but prior to the mid 1960s the city was dominated by Republicans and the state legislature, as well.