any other jews get a little weirded out

[Anonymous]

I am Christian and acknowledge Jewish holidays on social media. When I wish a Jewish friend a happy holiday in person they seem genuinely appreciative. Is my behavior potentially patronizing or offensive?
I will rethink this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am Christian and acknowledge Jewish holidays on social media. When I wish a Jewish friend a happy holiday in person they seem genuinely appreciative. Is my behavior potentially patronizing or offensive?
I will rethink this.

Wishing your friend a happy holiday is fine/nice. (Probably - I guess know your friend.)

Social media - really depends on a lot of factors. Do you seem like you're doing it in a weird way, an awkward way, a self-congratulatory way? Is it one of those "Christians making Jewish things all about them" kind of things? If so maybe just skip - it's not your holiday. No need to make it about you.

Do you feel like it's an authentic expression? Do you feel good about them? Do your Jewish friends seem to enjoy them? Then cool - sounds like you're doing it right. Or at least doing it fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Christian and acknowledge Jewish holidays on social media. When I wish a Jewish friend a happy holiday in person they seem genuinely appreciative. Is my behavior potentially patronizing or offensive?
I will rethink this.

Wishing your friend a happy holiday is fine/nice. (Probably - I guess know your friend.)

Social media - really depends on a lot of factors. Do you seem like you're doing it in a weird way, an awkward way, a self-congratulatory way? Is it one of those "Christians making Jewish things all about them" kind of things? If so maybe just skip - it's not your holiday. No need to make it about you.

Do you feel like it's an authentic expression? Do you feel good about them? Do your Jewish friends seem to enjoy them? Then cool - sounds like you're doing it right. Or at least doing it fine.

Wait….this is just plain crazy. I think you have a chip on your shoulder or you are not proud of your Jewish heritage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Christian and acknowledge Jewish holidays on social media. When I wish a Jewish friend a happy holiday in person they seem genuinely appreciative. Is my behavior potentially patronizing or offensive?
I will rethink this.

Wishing your friend a happy holiday is fine/nice. (Probably - I guess know your friend.)

Social media - really depends on a lot of factors. Do you seem like you're doing it in a weird way, an awkward way, a self-congratulatory way? Is it one of those "Christians making Jewish things all about them" kind of things? If so maybe just skip - it's not your holiday. No need to make it about you.

Do you feel like it's an authentic expression? Do you feel good about them? Do your Jewish friends seem to enjoy them? Then cool - sounds like you're doing it right. Or at least doing it fine.

Wait….this is just plain crazy. I think you have a chip on your shoulder or you are not proud of your Jewish heritage.

Why would you think either of those things?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am Christian and acknowledge Jewish holidays on social media. When I wish a Jewish friend a happy holiday in person they seem genuinely appreciative. Is my behavior potentially patronizing or offensive?
I will rethink this.

Well…it depends. Do you say “happy Yom Kippur?” Because that would be hilarious.

[Anonymous]

NP -- I don't think it's WEIRD, exactly, but it can come off a little awkwardly, though certainly not intentionally.

For instance, I know someone Catholic who posts on Facebook about every upcoming Jewish holiday and tags all the Jews she knows, and her posts are typically either obviously content made for non-Jews to understand Jewish customs or basically copy/pasted from Wikipedia. So yes, obviously it's nice that she's acknowledging our holidays and wishing us well; at the same time, perhaps spamming us all with the very basic definitions of the holidays is not the most elegant way to do it.

But it's well-intentioned, so I just shrug at the awkwardness and move on.

[Anonymous]

To all our Jewish friends, “L'shanah tovah tikatevu ve techatemu!”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:when christians post about jewish holidays?

i just saw a friend - who i know is well-intentioned - put up a fb post listing out all the fall jewish holidays, along with appropriate greetings for your jewish friends on each of them. "Have an easy fast," for Yom Kippur, that sort of thing.

I have another non-jewish friend who always puts up a big group post listing all her jewish friends - that she knows of - whenever there is a jewish holiday, and wishing us a good holiday.

it's a little weird, right?? well-intentioned, but weird?

Yes, weird

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Christian and acknowledge Jewish holidays on social media. When I wish a Jewish friend a happy holiday in person they seem genuinely appreciative. Is my behavior potentially patronizing or offensive?
I will rethink this.

Well…it depends. Do you say “happy Yom Kippur?” Because that would be hilarious.

The message I'm getting is that it's better not to try, because you risk ruffling feathers or making people laugh at the attempt.

[Anonymous]

Happy New Year to all the Jewish DCUMers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Happy New Year to all the Jewish DCUMers!

L'shana tovah to you as well. May your new year be sweet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Christian and acknowledge Jewish holidays on social media. When I wish a Jewish friend a happy holiday in person they seem genuinely appreciative. Is my behavior potentially patronizing or offensive?
I will rethink this.

Well…it depends. Do you say “happy Yom Kippur?” Because that would be hilarious.

The message I'm getting is that it's better not to try, because you risk ruffling feathers or making people laugh at the attempt.

I am OP - and come on. Just be authentic and own what you are doing and saying. If you truly feel good about wishing your Jewish friends a happy new year, or an easy fast, then do it - I think it's the lack of authenticity and knowledge that just kind of seems weird sometimes. But if you are really familiar with Jewish customs or close with your Jewish friends, then it might not be weird. You can always ask a close Jewish friend how it's coming across. And you can always say something like: I'm not Jewish but I'd love to learn more about this holiday. Could I tag along at someone's celebration? That feels authentic and sincere (if it is).

Also, if you can't live with people sometimes rolling their eyes at your social media posts, don't go on social media. You're out saying things in public, and some people won't like what you have to say - or how you said a thing - and that's just life. It doesn't mean everyone hates you or wants to send you to cancel jail - it means you were a little cringey or weird, and who cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Christian and acknowledge Jewish holidays on social media. When I wish a Jewish friend a happy holiday in person they seem genuinely appreciative. Is my behavior potentially patronizing or offensive?
I will rethink this.

Well…it depends. Do you say “happy Yom Kippur?” Because that would be hilarious.

The message I'm getting is that it's better not to try, because you risk ruffling feathers or making people laugh at the attempt.

I am OP - and come on. Just be authentic and own what you are doing and saying. If you truly feel good about wishing your Jewish friends a happy new year, or an easy fast, then do it - I think it's the lack of authenticity and knowledge that just kind of seems weird sometimes. But if you are really familiar with Jewish customs or close with your Jewish friends, then it might not be weird. You can always ask a close Jewish friend how it's coming across. And you can always say something like: I'm not Jewish but I'd love to learn more about this holiday. Could I tag along at someone's celebration? That feels authentic and sincere (if it is).

Also, if you can't live with people sometimes rolling their eyes at your social media posts, don't go on social media. You're out saying things in public, and some people won't like what you have to say - or how you said a thing - and that's just life. It doesn't mean everyone hates you or wants to send you to cancel jail - it means you were a little cringey or weird, and who cares.

NP. Don’t be uptight and stop the navel gazing and second guessing others. People are allowed to be nice.
Oh, and Happy New Year, friend!

[Anonymous]

I don’t think it’s inauthentic to wish Jewish friends happy holidays. They wish me a merry Christmas. We say Happy Diwali and Happy Eid to others. Maybe you think everyone is a poser and inauthentic because we don’t have a PhD in Islamic History.

I appreciate kind words from friends and I don’t read that much into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s inauthentic to wish Jewish friends happy holidays. They wish me a merry Christmas. We say Happy Diwali and Happy Eid to others. Maybe you think everyone is a poser and inauthentic because we don’t have a PhD in Islamic History.

I appreciate kind words from friends and I don’t read that much into it.

+1 to this and to the pp telling another pp to stop second-guessing others. Lots of people are always looking for a reason to be offended—don’t be that person unless there really is offense given. There’s no bright line, but I’m pretty sure wishing somebody happy holidays doesn’t cross it.