DS attends Jewish preschool. Wants to celebrate Jewish holidays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 3 yo keeps talking about latkes and dreidels after his preschool teacher taught them about the holiday. Next year, I’ll be more prepared with books and a menorah and dreidels. I’ll even bake latkes. I’m happy my child wants to learn about other religious holidays.

The dreidel and latkes are one thing, but please don’t get a menorah. It’s not a secular item.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 3 yo keeps talking about latkes and dreidels after his preschool teacher taught them about the holiday. Next year, I’ll be more prepared with books and a menorah and dreidels. I’ll even bake latkes. I’m happy my child wants to learn about other religious holidays.

The dreidel and latkes are one thing, but please don’t get a menorah. It’s not a secular item.

Also you'd better fry not bake your freaking latkes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 3 yo keeps talking about latkes and dreidels after his preschool teacher taught them about the holiday. Next year, I’ll be more prepared with books and a menorah and dreidels. I’ll even bake latkes. I’m happy my child wants to learn about other religious holidays.

The dreidel and latkes are one thing, but please don’t get a menorah. It’s not a secular item.

Also you'd better fry not bake your freaking latkes!

PP here. I mean OF COURSE.

Who would bake them?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not Jewish but my spouse is and we celebrate the holidays with DD. DH is not very religious but likes preserving cultural traditions. Even so, you cannot really separate religion from the holidays. Honestly, even celebrating with my family I feel a little awkward singing prayers I do not fully understand or believe in. I think it would be very, very strange to just start celebrating religious holidays for a religion that is not yours. It's not a game, you know?

Especially when Jews have been enslaved, murdered, and persecuted for our religion throughout history and today.

Once again, my CHILD wants to celebrate. I have no desire. We aren’t religious.

So tell him sorry but no. My kids asked for a Christmas tree at that age. I said no because we are Jewish and don’t celebrate Christmas. They are capable of understanding. It’s a good lesson. He can join friends who celebrate but to do it on your own is not right. All Jewish holidays have religious components.

You sound like my Jewish mother in law who got my son a book as a child called There’s No Such Thing as a Hanukkah Bush and was dogged that he could not have a Christmas tree. Needless to say, he married a non Jew and getting a tree every year is his favorite thing to do.

Here’s the thing folks - you can expose your children to different religions. You can practice different traditions and celebrate different holidays with respect. You can explain to your kids what different religions believe, focus on commonalities and values that are shared by different religions, and allow them to choose their own path, including no religion. Signed, someone who was raised Christian and now identifies as Buddhist and is married to a cultural Jew who has family members ranging from Catholic to evangelical Christian to Unitarian to Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Judaism. In our family we celebrate many holidays. We talk about how different people believe different things, and how there are shared values across religions and many spiritual teachers throughout time who help people live better lives.

And if you think I’m bad, here’s what is what is worse than this: pretending you believe a religion’s tenants when you really don’t and raising your kids in it, and then admitting to them as adults that you don’t actually buy into any of what you forced on them.

I’m not particularly religious, but this is BS. It’s one thing to eat challah or apples/honey. But are you seriously just telling your kids “oh we’re going to celebrate Ramadan in our house this year”?

We celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas because we’re an interfaith family. We teach our kid about different cultures, but that does not include celebrating random holidays we have zero connection as a family. That seems so disingenuous.

So do you celebrate Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s day? If you’re not Catholic, you are disingenuous by your own accusation.

And no, I’m not suggesting we celebrate all holidays but because we have many faiths in our extended family and we want to raise educated children with respect and appreciation for ALL faiths and allow them to choose what religion to practice, if any at all, we celebrate many holidays. We don’t do everything but we talk about what the holidays are and why people celebrate and what they believe and stress the underlying values that thread throughout all religions— kindness, love, respect, treating others the way they want to be treated, etc. It’s far more authentic than raising kids in a religion that you really don’t believe in out of familial obligation or guilt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not Jewish but my spouse is and we celebrate the holidays with DD. DH is not very religious but likes preserving cultural traditions. Even so, you cannot really separate religion from the holidays. Honestly, even celebrating with my family I feel a little awkward singing prayers I do not fully understand or believe in. I think it would be very, very strange to just start celebrating religious holidays for a religion that is not yours. It's not a game, you know?

Especially when Jews have been enslaved, murdered, and persecuted for our religion throughout history and today.

Once again, my CHILD wants to celebrate. I have no desire. We aren’t religious.

So tell him sorry but no. My kids asked for a Christmas tree at that age. I said no because we are Jewish and don’t celebrate Christmas. They are capable of understanding. It’s a good lesson. He can join friends who celebrate but to do it on your own is not right. All Jewish holidays have religious components.

You sound like my Jewish mother in law who got my son a book as a child called There’s No Such Thing as a Hanukkah Bush and was dogged that he could not have a Christmas tree. Needless to say, he married a non Jew and getting a tree every year is his favorite thing to do.

Here’s the thing folks - you can expose your children to different religions. You can practice different traditions and celebrate different holidays with respect. You can explain to your kids what different religions believe, focus on commonalities and values that are shared by different religions, and allow them to choose their own path, including no religion. Signed, someone who was raised Christian and now identifies as Buddhist and is married to a cultural Jew who has family members ranging from Catholic to evangelical Christian to Unitarian to Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Judaism. In our family we celebrate many holidays. We talk about how different people believe different things, and how there are shared values across religions and many spiritual teachers throughout time who help people live better lives.

And if you think I’m bad, here’s what is what is worse than this: pretending you believe a religion’s tenants when you really don’t and raising your kids in it, and then admitting to them as adults that you don’t actually buy into any of what you forced on them.

I’m not particularly religious, but this is BS. It’s one thing to eat challah or apples/honey. But are you seriously just telling your kids “oh we’re going to celebrate Ramadan in our house this year”?

We celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas because we’re an interfaith family. We teach our kid about different cultures, but that does not include celebrating random holidays we have zero connection as a family. That seems so disingenuous.

So do you celebrate Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s day? If you’re not Catholic, you are disingenuous by your own accusation.

And no, I’m not suggesting we celebrate all holidays but because we have many faiths in our extended family and we want to raise educated children with respect and appreciation for ALL faiths and allow them to choose what religion to practice, if any at all, we celebrate many holidays. We don’t do everything but we talk about what the holidays are and why people celebrate and what they believe and stress the underlying values that thread throughout all religions— kindness, love, respect, treating others the way they want to be treated, etc. It’s far more authentic than raising kids in a religion that you really don’t believe in out of familial obligation or guilt.

Talking about the holidays is *very* different than celebrating them.

And STFU with Valentine’s Day; it’s a cultural holiday at this point. And no, I don’t celebrate St. Patty’s Day because I’m not Irish.

[Anonymous]

OP, I am not Jewish and don't know much about it, but it seems to me there are some holiday traditions that Jewish people are happy to share with others, such as: singing dreidel song and playing dreidel game, and baking special pastries for specific holidays.

You could ask his preschool director for age appropriate activities like those that you can do with your son without getting into too-religious territory. There may be some Jewish holidays that are too religious, and in that case maybe there is a childrens book to read about it together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 3 yo keeps talking about latkes and dreidels after his preschool teacher taught them about the holiday. Next year, I’ll be more prepared with books and a menorah and dreidels. I’ll even bake latkes. I’m happy my child wants to learn about other religious holidays.

you have to fry latkes.

lighting the menorah is a bridge too far IMO - it’s a prayer ritual, not a decoration. I’m fine with the latkes tho.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 3 yo keeps talking about latkes and dreidels after his preschool teacher taught them about the holiday. Next year, I’ll be more prepared with books and a menorah and dreidels. I’ll even bake latkes. I’m happy my child wants to learn about other religious holidays.

The dreidel and latkes are one thing, but please don’t get a menorah. It’s not a secular item.

Also you'd better fry not bake your freaking latkes!

actually ... I wonder if you can do sheet pan latkes? like roast and flip them on a pan with plenty of oil?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 3 yo keeps talking about latkes and dreidels after his preschool teacher taught them about the holiday. Next year, I’ll be more prepared with books and a menorah and dreidels. I’ll even bake latkes. I’m happy my child wants to learn about other religious holidays.

The dreidel and latkes are one thing, but please don’t get a menorah. It’s not a secular item.

Also you'd better fry not bake your freaking latkes!

actually ... I wonder if you can do sheet pan latkes? like roast and flip them on a pan with plenty of oil?

you can

: )

[Anonymous]

What did you expect to happen? Duh! He’s a baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Surely you foresaw this would be a problem, OP.

I guess I should have known better. I guess we’ll withdrawal him from the school he’s gone through for 3 years that gladly accepted him knowing we weren’t religious because we don’t practice Judaism.

Sure they excepted you. You are tuition dollars. There are more than happy to share the religion with you because you’re willing to except that your child will go to school where he will learn a religion that you are not, and you are obviously OK with it. You have to be a complete idiot not to realize that your child would want to do what everybody else in the class is doing to feel like he belongs. Why don’t you see the problem with this. And yes, I’m Jewish. And no, I do not agree with what you’re doing in anyway shape or form. Add to that, no I do not celebrate Christmas or teach my children about the Christmas holiday because that is not our religion and it is not appropriate!

[Anonymous]

I celebrate all holidays, and we are not religious. I have 2 young kids. To me, Christmas is about decorating a Christmas tree, put up lightning, snow is coming, getting gifts from Santa. Valentine is about giving out goodie bag to honor love and friendship between kids at school. St Patrick is about dressing green, eating food green and parade. Easter is about bunny, egg hunt, spring is here, and chicks. Halloween is about trick or treat, pumpkin patch, and fall is here. Thanksgiving is about expressing thanks, eating turkey and have apple cider/pumpkin pie. To me, I just purely want to celebrate with kids because they are looking for them every year. We make it fun, nothing religious or cultural. We We

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS attends a Jewish preschool while we work. He’s attended since he was a baby. He wants to celebrate Jewish holidays, especially Hanukkah, Passover, Purim, Yom Kippur & Rosa Hashanah.

We are not Jewish and anything I know about Judaism is what I’ve learned from his preschool. We are irreligious and celebrate a secular Christmas.

Is it appropriate for non-Jews to carry out Jewish traditions? Most of his friends from school are Jewish and I think he feels left out?

Jew here, and we're happy to have you celebrate.
Unlike the other posters who would look to exclude you ("I would feel weird" etc), I say do it.
I would ask someone at your son's preschool about where you could find out more info.

They'll be happy to direct you, as we're an inclusive religion... the more the merrier.

[Anonymous]

It’s all make believe anyway. It is no more or less legitimate than believing that black cats bring bad luck. What you do or don’t do in your own home whether it is Christian or Jewish or Muslim or Hindu has absolutely NO impact or bearing on anything. If others choose to be upset about what you do that is on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re non-Christian and celebrate Christmas you really should shut up about non-Jews celebrating any Jewish holidays.

If you aren’t Christian stop appropriating a CHRISTIAN holiday. If you can’t take the culture or flaccid seriously you shouldn’t celebrate it. It’s not fun and games.

Millions of people around the world are going to continue to celebrate Christmas secularly, with secular Christmas songs and Santa and stockings and trees and more, whether or not you give your permission. Feel free to continue to whine about it, I guess.

Truly cannot imagine celebrating the birth of baby Jesus with my children with a straight face if I didn't really believe in it. It is so weird. If being irreligious is so important to you why do you feel the need to celebrate other people's holidays?

Just to piss you off.