How My Jewish Dad Taught Me To Decorate A Christmas Tree

The Federalist ^ | December 21, 2020 | David Marcus

[wgmalabama]

Great post. Thanks. We need reminders of the good stuff.

[Wiser now]

A proper tree requires a minimum of 100 lights per foot. I’ve noticed a trend to fewer than 50 lights per foot on the newer prelit artificial trees. They aren’t pretty at all.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Kaslin: I understand your feelings. I came from a old world set of Jewish grandparents (Russia, Vienna, Lemberg - those who remained there got killed in a mass execution by the Nazis). The Holocaust was almost never mentioned, not even by 3 of my Hebrew school teachers (Auschwitz survivors), but was by another one, Dr. Eli Levi, a US soldier who liberated a concentration camp.

Orthodox Hebrew School, Bar Mitzvah, majority Jewish elementary (we had two great Chinese girls in our school, respected by everyone) and junior high, with a lot of Jewish teachers. Loved Chanukah and Passover Seders (at my house or Uncle Israel’s, like a scene out of “Blazing Saddles” - 40 conversations going on at once, concerning 100 matters).

My wife (47 years and still going)is Episcopalian or Presbyterian or maybe a touch of the Church of England (her family came from France, Germany, England, perhaps Scotland - so many churches, so much confusion). She always supported the kids and Chanukah and Passover (fascinated by those Passover dinners I mentioned above - It was like “Twilight Zone” comes to life where Art/Music, education, and some politics met Latkes, Gefilte Fish, Brisket, Chicken Soup and Matzoh (which we later painted white and made into house shingles).

She still remembers a video we have of one of the calmer and quieter ones - a rarity but treasured.

Chanukah is celebrated in our house and my son, daughter and granddaughter also do it. Now my newer soon to be adopted grandchildren are Irish Catholic as is their father but they like Jewish foods and customs as we do their Christmas holiday - food, celebration, decorations, and family unity.

In summation, it is the “meaning” and “spirit” of a holiday that counts as much as the religious aspects. Being the only Jewish family on our block means that we have both Channukah, Halloween and Christmas items on the porch/door, gate, cat and in the windows, etc.

My wife and I love the colors of Christmas. You should see our neighborhood. Has some of the best and largest displays in our county.

This year, there were more and earlier Xmas displays both inside and outside than ever before. I suspect it is a deliberate thumb in the face of the Democrat/liberals/Marxists attempts to destroy Christmas, its meaning, colorful celebrations and decorations.

We are all for it. No vandalism, no anti-Christian or anti-Jewish attacks (it would be very painful for the perps if they tried, and if they lived). Everyone is cheerful and polite. Race is not an issue. Place of birth is not important (we have Hindus from India and Pakistan on our block, had a Vietnamese family for a long time, blacks, whites, Hispanics, etc).

That is the beauty of America, a beauty that is under a devastating attack from the Left, the destruction of the family, religion, tradition/culture, the arts/music, education and patriotism.

The Chanukah/Christmas alliance in time (of the year) is a cement that helps to protect and preserve our Judeo-Christian heritage. In recent years it has been reinforced by political/religious refugees from communism (Cuba, Eastern Europe, Vietnam/Laos/Cambodia). That is why the Democrat Party’s Left (Sanders, AOC, Omar, Tlaib, Pressley, etc) hate them, because they brought with them their religious convictions as well as desires for political freedom which are diametrically opposed to the Dem Marxists and created a new wave of pro-America patriotism which the Left cannot let exist.

Jews eat Chinese food for Christmas. Vietnamese eat pizza. Italians make the best lasagna in the world so everyone eats Italian, and the Japanese & French eat anything that lives. Bon appetite!

Christmas has become a mix of all Americans regardless of religion because it has an emphasis on a belief in God, peace, brotherly love, respect, and good company.

Kaslin: You’ve been able to crossover these various worlds and are very happy with what you’ve got, be they memories or practices. There was a book about immigrants and how they became Americans over the years while still keeping their personal identities. It was entitled “Only In America”, perhaps by Leon Uris, Harry Golden or Leo Rosten. Made a great line in the song of same name in “Westside Story”, and as a result of the theme of Neil Diamond’s “Coming to America”.

Another great book on the “American” of immigrants was “The Education of Hyman Kaplan”. Night school was non-discriminatory for those who want to become Americans.

Here we can be who we want to be, worship how we want to, and still be united as Americans without conflict or threats (except from the anti-religion Marxist/Black Left, Islamic extremists or Racist/Anti-Semitic Extreme Right).

Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Tet, Chinese New Year and even Happy Quonset Hutt (for those who are followers of Jabba the Hutt). Oh, I can’t forget St. Festivus Day. “

Ain’t America great? Let’s keep it that way!