Are Oktoberfest parties offensive to Jewish people?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hosted an Oktoberfest party for our neighborhood and noticed that a few of my Jewish friends didn't attend and were kind of quiet with me last time I saw them. DH and I aren't German, but we did the traditional German beer, food, etc. Maybe it's coincidental that they were busy and it's my imagination. Hope this is the case as I'd never want to offend them.

As a Jew, I'm more disturbed that you noticed the religions of people who weren't there, and are preemptively judging them for it, than I am by your decision to have a German-themed party.

Meh. OP did nothing wrong.

OP is keeping careful track of her Jewish friends and their movements. It's kind of weird. It would never have occurred to me to think that there had to be a reason that my friends didn't show, much less assume it was because of their religion.

You are being dramatic.

[Anonymous]

On a side note, I don't think I'd even know which of my friends are Jewish. Do we give out a signal to each other?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On a side note, I don't think I'd even know which of my friends are Jewish. Do we give out a signal to each other?

You don't know which friends are Jewish?

That's like saying you don't know which ones are black.

Being Jewish in many cases is not just being religious; it's a culture.

Stop pretending to be oh so Liberal and God-blind. If you don't talk about this, you're not really friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hosted an Oktoberfest party for our neighborhood and noticed that a few of my Jewish friends didn't attend and were kind of quiet with me last time I saw them. DH and I aren't German, but we did the traditional German beer, food, etc. Maybe it's coincidental that they were busy and it's my imagination. Hope this is the case as I'd never want to offend them.

As a Jew, I'm more disturbed that you noticed the religions of people who weren't there, and are preemptively judging them for it, than I am by your decision to have a German-themed party.

easily offended

blech

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On a side note, I don't think I'd even know which of my friends are Jewish. Do we give out a signal to each other?

You don't know which friends are Jewish?

That's like saying you don't know which ones are black.

Being Jewish in many cases is not just being religious; it's a culture.

Stop pretending to be oh so Liberal and God-blind. If you don't talk about this, you're not really friends.

Do you seriously not see the difference? For your example, to not know which of your friends are black, you'd have to be blind.

[Anonymous]

One possibility OP -- I don't know when your party was but Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah and Succot all were in September/October. Perhaps your friends were busy.

At any rate, there is nothing offensive to Jews about Oktoberfest. I lived in Cincinnati for several years, which has both a large Jewish population and a very fine Oktoberfest. Celebrated by all with vim and vigor and fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hosted an Oktoberfest party for our neighborhood and noticed that a few of my Jewish friends didn't attend and were kind of quiet with me last time I saw them. DH and I aren't German, but we did the traditional German beer, food, etc. Maybe it's coincidental that they were busy and it's my imagination. Hope this is the case as I'd never want to offend them.

As a Jew, I'm more disturbed that you noticed the religions of people who weren't there, and are preemptively judging them for it, than I am by your decision to have a German-themed party.

Meh. OP did nothing wrong.

OP is keeping careful track of her Jewish friends and their movements. It's kind of weird. It would never have occurred to me to think that there had to be a reason that my friends didn't show, much less assume it was because of their religion.

I see nothing wrong with OP wondering if no-show invitees who later may have been less warm to her last time they saw one another had a reason to behave that way. Sure OP could be, and probably is, off-base on this but she's trying to consider if she unthinkingly offended someone. You're odd for thinking she's offensive for wondering if she unintentionally offended someone.

Agreed.

+2. OP is being thoughtful in wondering if she might have inadvertently offended one or more friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hosted an Oktoberfest party for our neighborhood and noticed that a few of my Jewish friends didn't attend and were kind of quiet with me last time I saw them. DH and I aren't German, but we did the traditional German beer, food, etc. Maybe it's coincidental that they were busy and it's my imagination. Hope this is the case as I'd never want to offend them.

As a Jew, I'm more disturbed that you noticed the religions of people who weren't there, and are preemptively judging them for it, than I am by your decision to have a German-themed party.

Wait -- so you are saying that you, as a Jew, are disturbed by their decision to have a German-themed party. Interesting...

Not so much with the reading comprehension, eh?

Actually, "more disturbed" implies the PP was at least a little disturbed by the German themed party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hosted an Oktoberfest party for our neighborhood and noticed that a few of my Jewish friends didn't attend and were kind of quiet with me last time I saw them. DH and I aren't German, but we did the traditional German beer, food, etc. Maybe it's coincidental that they were busy and it's my imagination. Hope this is the case as I'd never want to offend them.

As a Jew, I'm more disturbed that you noticed the religions of people who weren't there, and are preemptively judging them for it, than I am by your decision to have a German-themed party.

Meh. OP did nothing wrong.

OP is keeping careful track of her Jewish friends and their movements. It's kind of weird. It would never have occurred to me to think that there had to be a reason that my friends didn't show, much less assume it was because of their religion.

I see nothing wrong with OP wondering if no-show invitees who later may have been less warm to her last time they saw one another had a reason to behave that way. Sure OP could be, and probably is, off-base on this but she's trying to consider if she unthinkingly offended someone. You're odd for thinking she's offensive for wondering if she unintentionally offended someone.

Agreed.

+2. OP is being thoughtful in wondering if she might have inadvertently offended one or more friends.

While I think OP may be overthinking the whole thing, I don't think it reflects hidden anti-Semitism. She'd probably look for deeper meaning/reasons why if another 3-4 friends didn't come to her party who aren't Jewish. Was it her mood lighting? Her appetizers aren't any good? She needs better party games... Her shampoo. Her breath mint. This is anxiety, not anti-Semitism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hosted an Oktoberfest party for our neighborhood and noticed that a few of my Jewish friends didn't attend and were kind of quiet with me last time I saw them. DH and I aren't German, but we did the traditional German beer, food, etc. Maybe it's coincidental that they were busy and it's my imagination. Hope this is the case as I'd never want to offend them.

You needed to drink a little more beer and relax. Your Jewish friends may all avoid you for some common reason, but it's not your Oktoberfest party.

+100!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hosted an Oktoberfest party for our neighborhood and noticed that a few of my Jewish friends didn't attend and were kind of quiet with me last time I saw them. DH and I aren't German, but we did the traditional German beer, food, etc. Maybe it's coincidental that they were busy and it's my imagination. Hope this is the case as I'd never want to offend them.

My French friends would be very offended by your Oktoberfest. Greeks too.

[Anonymous]

Those of you that stated you hate German food--it's pretty clear that your exposure is limited to the pseudo German crap that passes as German food in the US, or what tourists get when they visit and want "authentic" German food, which bears no resemblance to what Germans actually eat. It's a lot like saying I hate American food. Ignorant of the variety and influences from many other cultures.

[Anonymous]

OMG everyone on this thread needs to relax. Perhaps with a Heineken!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG everyone on this thread needs to relax. Perhaps with a Heineken!

You know Heineken is Dutch, correct?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those of you that stated you hate German food--it's pretty clear that your exposure is limited to the pseudo German crap that passes as German food in the US, or what tourists get when they visit and want "authentic" German food, which bears no resemblance to what Germans actually eat. It's a lot like saying I hate American food. Ignorant of the variety and influences from many other cultures.

Nope. Have had plenty of German food and still hate it.