any other jews get a little weirded out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My college roommate is Jewish. Always wishes me happiness on a Christian holiday. I’m not offended. What’s the difference?

The difference is that it is expected of Americans to wish people well on Christian holidays. We live in a Christian country after all.

[Anonymous]

I agree OP. It’s very nice and well-intentioned. It’s like when you meet people who don’t know many Jews and upon finding out you are Jewish they say, “ I have a Jewish friend I met in high school.”

[Anonymous]

Its cringy in the real world, but makes sense in a social media world. (Like don't sit at lunch with friend and say out of nowhere "did you know the correct greeting for xxx is yyy?" And you don't stop every Jewish coworker who you hardly know and just say "Shana tova)

The meme - the person likely didn't always know that information, so it's novel to them. Growing up in NY my non Jewish friends knew the basic greetings in elementary school. Here my adult coworkers grumble and ask why schools are closed that day. So yeah, anything that educates people on that is fine with me.

The tagging- I hate mass tagging I'm general. The people who do it in the case (at least in my circle) are people who grew up without diversity and are truly interested in learning. I do feel like a token Jew-friend when someone I met only a couple of times tags my in something like that. But the people I know who do it, the intention is good.

[Anonymous]

This is why I don’t bother trying to be inclusive. Normal people don’t really care and the perpetually aggrieved are looking for reasons to pretend to be aggrieved so best to just not engage with them since it’s a no win scenario.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why I don’t bother trying to be inclusive. Normal people don’t really care and the perpetually aggrieved are looking for reasons to pretend to be aggrieved so best to just not engage with them since it’s a no win scenario.

Sad and unfortunate, but true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My college roommate is Jewish. Always wishes me happiness on a Christian holiday. I’m not offended. What’s the difference?

This is OP - and I am not "offended," I just find it a little weird. I think the difference is that presumably your college roommate knows you well enough to know if wishing you happiness on a Christian holiday is appropriate. These are generic "oh, you're Jewish, well here's what I am going to presume about what to say to you without having any personal knowledge about how you practice" sorts of things. It's just weird! I don't care enough to say anything to the people who are making the posts - I do care enough to say here that I find it odd and a little off!

Dp. I know which of my Jewish friends are religious, cultural or High Holy Days Jewish. One friend told me I knew more about Jewish culture than she does (it was a joke) because I know the word "Safta" and other Hebrew words. I'm a "Christmas and Easter" Catholic, for reference.

You get a cookie

Hamantaschen?

[Anonymous]

For me it’s all about the intention. I assume good intentions in these situations. I am Jewish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For me it’s all about the intention. I assume good intentions in these situations. I am Jewish.

Usually this. The intentions are good and it is not the end of the world if nice people say awkward things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree, well-intentioned but weird. I would roll my eyes hard at the Facebook post which is very obviously virtue signaling. Like even if you make a point to know this stuff and offer appropriate greetings, posting about it to Facebook is just a way of being like "Look how THOUGHTFUL and worldly I am!" I also think it would come off as lecture-y to other non-Jews who might then feel pressure to do it, which I really don't feel is necessary.

The last thing I want is for all my non-Jewish friends texting me to let me know they want me to have an easy fast, lol. I usually don't even fast! I'm a bad Jew.

I am OP - and I think this is a lot of it. The FB post was specifically aimed at other Christians - like, hey, Christians, here are the important Jewish holidays and don't bother your Jewish friends during them, but when you do see your Jewish friends here's what to say. Then of course there was the obligatory "please share" - and I was like, please don't! (In my head, I didn't say anything.)

But yeah, I can't remember the last time I celebrated Rosh Hashana or fasted for Yom Kippur. It feels very othering and presumptuous - and also sort of ignorant about how many of us are secular Jews? - to be lecturing one another about what to say and not say to Jewish people on those days. Just be normal, maybe? Be sensitive that some of your Jewish friends may be observing the holidays, and others may not be - like I don't presume that my Christian friends are totally unavailable on Good Friday but if they told me they'd be out of the office or something I would be fine with that, too.

Good grief. What a privileged life you live to be so sensitive.

[Anonymous]

Maybe they’ve read on DCUM posters saying they feel marginalized or invisible, especially during the December holidays, and are trying to help people feel seen and celebrated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My college roommate is Jewish. Always wishes me happiness on a Christian holiday. I’m not offended. What’s the difference?

This is OP - and I am not "offended," I just find it a little weird. I think the difference is that presumably your college roommate knows you well enough to know if wishing you happiness on a Christian holiday is appropriate. These are generic "oh, you're Jewish, well here's what I am going to presume about what to say to you without having any personal knowledge about how you practice" sorts of things. It's just weird! I don't care enough to say anything to the people who are making the posts - I do care enough to say here that I find it odd and a little off!

Dp. I know which of my Jewish friends are religious, cultural or High Holy Days Jewish. One friend told me I knew more about Jewish culture than she does (it was a joke) because I know the word "Safta" and other Hebrew words. I'm a "Christmas and Easter" Catholic, for reference.

You get a cookie

Hamantaschen?

And a Communion wafer

[Anonymous]

People are literally just trying to be nice and acknowledge that you - their friend - are celebrating a holiday that's commonly known to be important to your religion. I think you are overthinking this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My college roommate is Jewish. Always wishes me happiness on a Christian holiday. I’m not offended. What’s the difference?

The difference is that it is expected of Americans to wish people well on Christian holidays. We live in a Christian country after all.

Nope!
Christianity is popular, but not a Christian country. Just a lot of Christians, some of whom like to violate the Constitution.

But Jews run the country

This is not funny, even as a joke.

[Anonymous]

OP, so I take saying 'Merry Christmas' is off-limits for you.

[Anonymous]

Yes, as you said, well-intentioned but a little creepy. I definitely wouldn't want my name listed in a post intended for "all my Jewish friends." I don't need everyone to know I'm Jewish.