Just doesn’t feel right celebrating Hanukkah this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm Jewish, not a Zionist, I don't like what Israel and Hamas are doing, and I'm not celebrating Hannakah this year.
If you don't like that I don't care. I'm an independent thinker and have always been different.
I'm not festive this year and I'm not celebrating. You can do whatever you want to do. Your opinion of me doesn't matter to me. I've always lived outside the box.

So you’re having a crisis of faith? I’m truly struggling to understand the rationale. Presumably as a non-zionist you clearly see the distinction between the government and the faith. If you’re uncomfortable full stop with a Jewish holiday that is based in Jewish history in Jerusalem and reflects the religious importance of Jerusalem, then maybe you are losing your faith all together.

From my perspective as a Christian though - I can assure you that zero Christians stop celebrating Christian holidays just because of what someone else is doing in the name of Christianity. They might leave the faith because of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm Jewish, not a Zionist, I don't like what Israel and Hamas are doing, and I'm not celebrating Hannakah this year.
If you don't like that I don't care. I'm an independent thinker and have always been different.
I'm not festive this year and I'm not celebrating. You can do whatever you want to do. Your opinion of me doesn't matter to me. I've always lived outside the box.

Everyone--living their lives, not aware of or caring about this Anonymous poster

Poster--I know you are irritated with me, be mad!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm Jewish, not a Zionist, I don't like what Israel and Hamas are doing, and I'm not celebrating Hannakah this year.
If you don't like that I don't care. I'm an independent thinker and have always been different.
I'm not festive this year and I'm not celebrating. You can do whatever you want to do. Your opinion of me doesn't matter to me. I've always lived outside the box.

Fair enough, Hanukkah is the celebration of Jewish victory over Greek colonizers and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. I see why a non Zionist wouldn’t want to celebrate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm Jewish, not a Zionist, I don't like what Israel and Hamas are doing, and I'm not celebrating Hannakah this year.
If you don't like that I don't care. I'm an independent thinker and have always been different.
I'm not festive this year and I'm not celebrating. You can do whatever you want to do. Your opinion of me doesn't matter to me. I've always lived outside the box.

Fair enough, Hanukkah is the celebration of Jewish victory over Greek colonizers and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. I see why a non Zionist wouldn’t want to celebrate.

Huh? The story of Hannukah is not Zionish. Even the non-zionist Jewish sects like the Satmar celebrate Hannukah. But sure, if you’re uncomfortable with any connection between the Jews and Jerusalem maybe you’d be uncomfortable. I find that hard to fathom. I think OP is just saying she doesn’t want to celebrate, but if she’s ashamed about celebrating Judaism in the context of Jewish history in the region, then maybe she needs to introspect some more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm Jewish, not a Zionist, I don't like what Israel and Hamas are doing, and I'm not celebrating Hannakah this year.
If you don't like that I don't care. I'm an independent thinker and have always been different.
I'm not festive this year and I'm not celebrating. You can do whatever you want to do. Your opinion of me doesn't matter to me. I've always lived outside the box.

Fair enough, Hanukkah is the celebration of Jewish victory over Greek colonizers and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. I see why a non Zionist wouldn’t want to celebrate.

Huh? The story of Hannukah is not Zionish. Even the non-zionist Jewish sects like the Satmar celebrate Hannukah. But sure, if you’re uncomfortable with any connection between the Jews and Jerusalem maybe you’d be uncomfortable. I find that hard to fathom. I think OP is just saying she doesn’t want to celebrate, but if she’s ashamed about celebrating Judaism in the context of Jewish history in the region, then maybe she needs to introspect some more.

The story of Hanukkah is exactly Zionish, actually, this typo is very apt. (It isn't Zionist, per se, because Zionism is a much later phenomenon.) The religious significance of it is the miracle of the oil lasting eight days — but the narrative that leads up to the miracle, and why they needed the oil, is because the Maccabee rebellion defeated the Greeks and took over the Temple again and rededicated it.

Non-Zionist sects celebrate because the mitzvah is to light the candles, and the other context is irrelevant. But it's very much a celebration of the persistence of the Jewish people in the face of adversity. (It was a short-lived victory, since less than 200 years later, the Romans destroyed the Second Temple, but still.)

[Anonymous]

NP here, I’m pretty sure there are still reasons to light the candles vs. cursing the darkness, and yes, the Jewish people, separate from the state of Israel are still facing significant adversity, exclusion, and a strong desire from American society to “just assimilate” aka “be less Jewish”. I suspect secular Jews celebrate Hanukkah big because it is a way to connect with our ancestors and culture in a unifying way….you know at the same time of year people are insisting that we just accept “Merry Christmas” is a secular greeting.

[Anonymous]

I'm still unclear what about celebrating this year doesn't feel right to OP, but I attended a public community candle lighting last night and it felt so good to be in community with others and to hear/see support from our non-Jewish elected leaders. We lit candles at home with my kids, ate latkes, and opened gifts, and it didn't feel "wrong" to be happy and to celebrate Jewish strength and miracles.

Happy Hanukkah everyone!

[Anonymous]

My spouse and child are Jewish, I am not. We usually have a pretty quiet Hanukkah at home, but this year we are having a party. A couple of Jewish friends, most not. For us we want to bring people together and share traditions. This is also the first year I’ve received multiple Hanukkah party invitations. I think at least some people want something to celebrate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My spouse and child are Jewish, I am not. We usually have a pretty quiet Hanukkah at home, but this year we are having a party. A couple of Jewish friends, most not. For us we want to bring people together and share traditions. This is also the first year I’ve received multiple Hanukkah party invitations. I think at least some people want something to celebrate.

Beautiful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else feeling the same way?

Yes, def made me question what's going on in the Gaza Strip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My spouse and child are Jewish, I am not. We usually have a pretty quiet Hanukkah at home, but this year we are having a party. A couple of Jewish friends, most not. For us we want to bring people together and share traditions. This is also the first year I’ve received multiple Hanukkah party invitations. I think at least some people want something to celebrate.

Quite ackward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else feeling the same way?

Who can ignore ongoing human casualties when celebrating anything this year? No matter which religion one follows or what holiday they celebrate. Make it about peace so no other holiday season is ever tainted this way.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_2023_Israel–Hamas_war#:~:text=As%20of%2020%20December%2C%20over,over%20135%20UNRWA%20aid%20workers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else feeling the same way?

Who can ignore ongoing human casualties when celebrating anything this year? No matter which religion one follows or what holiday they celebrate. Make it about peace so no other holiday season is ever tainted this way.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_2023_Israel–Hamas_war#:~:text=As%20of%2020%20December%2C%20over,over%20135%20UNRWA%20aid%20workers.

Assuming you didn’t celebrate Christmas, then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else feeling the same way?

Who can ignore ongoing human casualties when celebrating anything this year? No matter which religion one follows or what holiday they celebrate. Make it about peace so no other holiday season is ever tainted this way.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_2023_Israel–Hamas_war#:~:text=As%20of%2020%20December%2C%20over,over%20135%20UNRWA%20aid%20workers.

Were there any conflicts going on last year, or is the first year with causalities during the holidays? I mean, this year is special right? What's special about it, PP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My spouse and child are Jewish, I am not. We usually have a pretty quiet Hanukkah at home, but this year we are having a party. A couple of Jewish friends, most not. For us we want to bring people together and share traditions. This is also the first year I’ve received multiple Hanukkah party invitations. I think at least some people want something to celebrate.

Quite ackward.

Sorry, what's quite awkward, celebrating Jewish holidays?