Posted on 12/23/2017 2:10:42 PM PST by nickcarraway
Every year, from Thanksgiving Eve until New Years Day, there is a feeling in the air of Christmas…and Hanukkah, multiple Shabbatot, many simchas and professional parties.
Christmas is basically a traditional Jewish way of life. We know Jesus was Jewish, and that for centuries our people have been the targets of anti-Semitism because of it. However, this practicing Jew looks at Christmas and all the joy it brings as a sign of Jewish values and many, many successes.
Look at the time spent on family gatherings. Waiting on crowded highways, sitting in airport lounges and spending hundreds of dollars to share a meal, an overnight stay and to spend valuable time together. We observant Jews do it weekly. My non-Jewish friends often joke about wishing how they had the ability to turn off a phone, like we observant Jews all do every Shabbat. Some wonder how they will ever get everything together in time for a festive meal. My answer: you don’t have religious laws restricting your time, so just Go For It!
One tradition I take advantage of from Christmas dinner are the multiple fish course recipes shared. After eight days of fried everything during Hanukkah, nothing tempts me more than trying new takes on salmon, tuna and all the various white soles and basses. Apparently, I am not the only one. I found two great salmon recipes in a new kosher cookbook, “The Healthy Jewish Cookbook” by Paula Shoyer. I also found some more in “Kosher Taste, plan, prepare, plate” by Amy Stopnicki.
How does holiday season begin? With the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade followed by all the sale days. Macy’s best-known owner was Isidor Straus, who died in the sinking of the Titanic. Jewish ties to retail, wholesale and Internet shopping are well known and documented. So are the houses of fashion and distributors of merchandise.
This year I will add two additions to my décor: They both are glass ornaments of women shopping.
Television, Movies and The Arts I admit: I am a Christmas movie addict. What better way to spend quality family time than to watch the classics like “It’s A Wonderful Life” or the Hallmark Channels and their 24 hour features? Personally, I wish there were a Hanukkah story or two. Why not a movie called “Latkes Fried With Love” or “Dreidel Competition?”
Have Yourself A Very Merry Song David Lehman, author of A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs, from Nextbook Press, says that this Christmas phenomenon is just one example of his larger point: that the story of American popular music is massively a Jewish story. Tablet Magazine asked Lehman to list his 10 favorite Christmas songs written by Jews. His only regret? “I really wish that ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ was by Jews,” he says. “That would definitely be in the top five.”
As we light our next Shabbos candles, let’s appreciate the feelings of love, the extra holiday greetings we share on the street with strangers and the sweetness of a simple cup hot cocoa or a bite from a basic sugar cookie.
No reason not to. I don’t LOVE Christmas but it’s nice. Why anyone has a problem with it is their problem.
As I once told an old friend who was Jewish, as a Christian, most of my heroes are Jewish.
Ditto.
A girl who sat next to me in high school, and had a crush on me, was really, really into Santa Claus.
Christmas is a time for love and decency to come to fore.
There is no reason Jewish citizens cannot respect this, even if they choose not to celebrate
Bingo!
To me, much as I have loved them, they are secular Christmas songs and not the more traditional Christ-centered hymns.
Oy to the World!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQpemfi7ymk
It’s wise in both religions to celebrate the arrival of the messiah, Emanuel.
She liked your white beard??
I’ve been listening to the Old Testament in Hebrew and it often brings me to tears even if I only recognize a few words, mostly Adonai. :) I can’t wait to hear the Psalms in its original language.
Yes, my best one is Yeshua ha Mashiach!
The people who get "insulted" are just miserable a$$hats looking to make others as miserable as they are.
I have to say, I did feel a bit self-conscious the other day, after wishing an Indian (Asian, not American,) coworker a Merry Christmas on the phone the other day, not knowing her religion (Hindu?) I said it without thinking, she did thank me.
Mark
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