Love elf on a shelf but Jewish

[Anonymous]

Can you help me think of an alternate character that I could use? Love this idea for the holidays.

[Anonymous]

why can't you just use the elf? is there something in Judaism that forbids this?

[Anonymous]

Snowman?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why can't you just use the elf? is there something in Judaism that forbids this?

Doesn't forbid but an elf is Xmas related and we don't celebrate Xmas.

[Anonymous]

Ah. I didn't realize. Is he supposed to be one of Santa's elves or something? Is he some sort of advent elf? I figured he was just some creepy elf people used to manipulate their kids to behave.

[Anonymous]

First, I think the Elf is creepy looking. And a goofy thing. But anyway...

Part of what makes the Elf on a Shelf "work" is that the phrase rhymes.

A PP suggested Snowman, which I think is a great non religious related character. So come up with something/some place that goes well with Snowman and you've got a winner. Just make the Snowman cute and not creepy!

[Anonymous]

Isn't the idea that the elf is reporting to Santa? What's the snowman going to do?

Maybe instead just hide some gelt for them to find each morning if that's what seems fun?

[Anonymous]

Moses on the Mantel? Just kidding.

[Anonymous]

Isn't there a Hanukkah Harry character? I know it started as a SNL skit, but maybe...

[Anonymous]

Wait until St Patrick' Day and have a leprechaun do mischievious stuff around the house?

What is it you like about Elf on the Shelf?

When I was growing up, I would stay sometimes with my aunt and uncle who lived in the country. They told me they had a house elf who lived in the cupboard and helped them out around the house and sometimes played tricks. IT was cute and charming and I loved trying to catch the elf.

There are any number of legends/myths/stories about little helpers or little tricksters, or woodland creatures. Elves, fairies, sprites, borrowers, etc. I'm sure there must be some in the Jewish tradition? If that's the angle that appeals to you, I'd look to your own heritage.

Seriously, I find this really odd. It's santa's elf. Who reports to Santa. You're Jewish. You don't celebrate Christmas. I'm not a wing nut Christian, and yet I do think the emphasis on Santa over the religious meaning of Christmas is too bad. We don't have to de-Christmas everything. Don't secularize my ELf on the Shelf (any more than has already been done, of course, she types tongue in cheek).

[Anonymous]

Put a dreidel in his hand!

[Anonymous]

Hmm. The whole point of Elf on the Shelf is that it is tied to Santa Claus and the Elf is supposed to be "watching" your child to encourage good behavior. I think it's a crappy idea actually if you use it in a way that the elf catches your kid being bad and tattles to Santa. It's just not the way I want to incentivize my kid, and I'm Christian. We've considered doing it in a positive reinforcement way - having the Elf catch our son doing something good and having him encourage our son to do good things through messages from Santa. Positive reinforcement is more powerful, I think.

So I'm not sure how the idea translates directly to Judaism but I get wanting to incentivize good behavior. My Jewish friends have this stuffed bear that sings the dreidel song. . .kind of annoying actually but that might work. Just not sure who the bear is going to report to or from, but I'm sure you can figure something out.

[Anonymous]

OP just adopt him. He's doesn't have to be Christian.

Heck look how the Christians "adopted" all the pagan symbolism that is now part of christmas!

In my house we have a christmas tree and a menorah. No jews or christians in my home. We're unitarian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait until St Patrick' Day and have a leprechaun do mischievious stuff around the house?

What is it you like about Elf on the Shelf?

When I was growing up, I would stay sometimes with my aunt and uncle who lived in the country. They told me they had a house elf who lived in the cupboard and helped them out around the house and sometimes played tricks. IT was cute and charming and I loved trying to catch the elf.

There are any number of legends/myths/stories about little helpers or little tricksters, or woodland creatures. Elves, fairies, sprites, borrowers, etc. I'm sure there must be some in the Jewish tradition? If that's the angle that appeals to you, I'd look to your own heritage.

Seriously, I find this really odd. It's santa's elf. Who reports to Santa. You're Jewish. You don't celebrate Christmas. I'm not a wing nut Christian, and yet I do think the emphasis on Santa over the religious meaning of Christmas is too bad. We don't have to de-Christmas everything. Don't secularize my ELf on the Shelf (any more than has already been done, of course, she types tongue in cheek).

Christians are always free to teach their children about St. Nick. I know it's a Catholic thing but if you want to emphasize a religious angle to Santa Claus that is it. I also have non-Catholic Christian friends who limit the number of gifts from Santa to three to mirror the gifts from the three wise men. Sorry - not trying to derail this thread but just wanted to give you some ideas.

[Anonymous]

We have an Elf but have not tied it to good behavior and naughty or nice. Instead, Santa sent him with a letter telling DD how excited they all are at the North Pole to celebrate Christmas. Our elf came down to spend the holiday season with us and share some of the Christmas magic. DD is entranced by the Christmas magic that has the Elf move from place to place each night while she sleeps.

I don't know, though, how you'd translate this to a Jewish custom. A magic dreidel that gets hidden each day (except, who is hiding it?)?