Is anyone else here Jewish and celebrate Christmas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, thank you for this thread. We just moved to this country, and my kid just went to middle school here. First day she comes back and tells us that when her science teacher announced that in the end of the year they are going to build a ginger bread house as a science project. Immediately, the girl who was siting next to my daughter turned to her and told her that because she is Jewish, my daughter has to build a ginger bread house for her.

We all were so confused at home and laughed very hard. We are not Americans. We are Christians who celebrate Christmas. But we had no clue what is a ginger bread house, what does it has to do with Christianity or Judaism. I honestly think that the little Jewish girl is so confused (and perhaps has parents who are clueless).

Reading this thread helps me to understand the mentality of American jewish

There is no “mentality of the American Jewish.” Jews who have roots all over the world, in many denominations, live all over the US. In fact, I live in a small town with one synagogue in our whole region, with Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and humanist members, and we’re having trouble with our rabbi search because many of us don’t agree with what we need for our congregation as Jews.

Please don’t let one snotty comment from a child lead you to those beliefs about all American Jews.

How do you even know the girl said that? This is 2nd hand, from a child whose first language who may not even be English, to a parent whose first language is not English. I seriously doubt the Jewish girl instructed PP's daughter to make a gingerbread house for her. More likely she just said that she wouldn't be doing it. As she should -- a gingerbread house is a traditional Christmas craft. Yes, it can be secular, but a Jewish family is perfectly within their rights to decline to do traditional Christmas crafts IN SCHOOL.

I know it from my child, that I clearly posted in my message. English is her native language, along with few others. You don't know my child, you don't know the Jewish girl, but you chose to accuse my child of lying or misinterpreting information. The girl didn't just said that she cannot do it, but clearly said that my daughter has to do it for her. We are not talking about 2nd grade children, we are talking about kids who are 12-13 years old, who can understand perfectly what has been said.

I found it funny because there is nothing in Christianity about gingerbread house, so no, I don't consider it Christmas tradition at all. Maybe it is a secular tradition in some countries like Germany, but it is not a Christian tradition. We are Christian family and we never ever made a ginerbread house at all.

I never said that the particular Jewish family was wrong in declining anything (they can decline any courses offered by public school, it is not my business). I think they are confused about Christian traditions. And the proper course of action for the Jewish girl would be to discuss it with the school administration, not with the other students. The girl and her parent received the school curriculum for each subject that they had to sign. If the parent don't agree with some aspects of the curriculum, they should contact a teacher or a counselor at school to discuss their issues with the ginerbread house.

Gingerbread houses might not be Christian, but they are part of the Christmas celebration. Santa is also secular, but I sure don’t want my Jewish child doing any school projects that involve him.

Where do you come down on snowmen?

As far as I know, it snows on everyone in our region, and it’s a human trait to recognize and create people in inanimate objects ...Snow is not something that forced assimilation.

Snow is not, but the snowman is. Same thing is with evergreen trees and decorated evergreen trees. So how you chose to accept a snowman, but not a decorated tree?

Hm. The first recorded evidence of a snowman was actually a Jewish figure (who was, I admit, present at the crucifixion). But scholars assume that since snow has fallen, people have built snowmen in their own images, and very little ties historical snowmen to Christmas...not even that first one. Frosty the Snowman makes so reference to Christmas in the original song, and barely mentions it in the movie. So, I’m not sure what your point is.

[Anonymous]

Snowmen and evergreen trees? Now the Christians claim winter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Christmas and Valentines Day are secular now, Guys. Enjoy!

Well so are Rosh Hahahah and Yom Kippur --- just join Machar, the Jewish secular synagogue, to see that they are secular!

So if that is part of your heritage or not, you can enjoy! Not that I see why non-Jews every embracing our most important holidays.

But, please don't tell us Jews that because Christmas, which celebrates the birth of a person who other worship as a god, has become secular, Jews should embrace it. It's commendable for Jews to keep their unique culture and not assimilate with the majority Christian culture. I personally admire Jews who show that Christmas is not an "American" holiday any more than Hanukkah is -- American means diverse religions so no religious holiday is an "American" one.

I think we Jews should embrace it. We can still keep our culture and assimilate at the same time.

NP. And how is that working out for us? 75% of Reform Jews intermarry and they and their kids predictably stop keeping any traditions. The only Jewish movement that’s actually growing is Orthodox. Because they refuse to assimilate.

How often descendants of immigrants keep their culture after the 1st generation? My parents are Jewish immigrants and they raised me with a culture as an adult I choose not to care for.

Same here. Not sure why this is such a crisis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, thank you for this thread. We just moved to this country, and my kid just went to middle school here. First day she comes back and tells us that when her science teacher announced that in the end of the year they are going to build a ginger bread house as a science project. Immediately, the girl who was siting next to my daughter turned to her and told her that because she is Jewish, my daughter has to build a ginger bread house for her.

We all were so confused at home and laughed very hard. We are not Americans. We are Christians who celebrate Christmas. But we had no clue what is a ginger bread house, what does it has to do with Christianity or Judaism. I honestly think that the little Jewish girl is so confused (and perhaps has parents who are clueless).

Reading this thread helps me to understand the mentality of American jewish

There is no “mentality of the American Jewish.” Jews who have roots all over the world, in many denominations, live all over the US. In fact, I live in a small town with one synagogue in our whole region, with Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and humanist members, and we’re having trouble with our rabbi search because many of us don’t agree with what we need for our congregation as Jews.

Please don’t let one snotty comment from a child lead you to those beliefs about all American Jews.

How do you even know the girl said that? This is 2nd hand, from a child whose first language who may not even be English, to a parent whose first language is not English. I seriously doubt the Jewish girl instructed PP's daughter to make a gingerbread house for her. More likely she just said that she wouldn't be doing it. As she should -- a gingerbread house is a traditional Christmas craft. Yes, it can be secular, but a Jewish family is perfectly within their rights to decline to do traditional Christmas crafts IN SCHOOL.

I know it from my child, that I clearly posted in my message. English is her native language, along with few others. You don't know my child, you don't know the Jewish girl, but you chose to accuse my child of lying or misinterpreting information. The girl didn't just said that she cannot do it, but clearly said that my daughter has to do it for her. We are not talking about 2nd grade children, we are talking about kids who are 12-13 years old, who can understand perfectly what has been said.

I found it funny because there is nothing in Christianity about gingerbread house, so no, I don't consider it Christmas tradition at all. Maybe it is a secular tradition in some countries like Germany, but it is not a Christian tradition. We are Christian family and we never ever made a ginerbread house at all.

I never said that the particular Jewish family was wrong in declining anything (they can decline any courses offered by public school, it is not my business). I think they are confused about Christian traditions. And the proper course of action for the Jewish girl would be to discuss it with the school administration, not with the other students. The girl and her parent received the school curriculum for each subject that they had to sign. If the parent don't agree with some aspects of the curriculum, they should contact a teacher or a counselor at school to discuss their issues with the ginerbread house.

Gingerbread houses might not be Christian, but they are part of the Christmas celebration. Santa is also secular, but I sure don’t want my Jewish child doing any school projects that involve him.

Where do you come down on snowmen?

As far as I know, it snows on everyone in our region, and it’s a human trait to recognize and create people in inanimate objects ...Snow is not something that forced assimilation.

Snow is not, but the snowman is. Same thing is with evergreen trees and decorated evergreen trees. So how you chose to accept a snowman, but not a decorated tree?

Hm. The first recorded evidence of a snowman was actually a Jewish figure (who was, I admit, present at the crucifixion). But scholars assume that since snow has fallen, people have built snowmen in their own images, and very little ties historical snowmen to Christmas...not even that first one. Frosty the Snowman makes so reference to Christmas in the original song, and barely mentions it in the movie. So, I’m not sure what your point is.

Where are the ties of the evergreen tree to the birth of Christ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, thank you for this thread. We just moved to this country, and my kid just went to middle school here. First day she comes back and tells us that when her science teacher announced that in the end of the year they are going to build a ginger bread house as a science project. Immediately, the girl who was siting next to my daughter turned to her and told her that because she is Jewish, my daughter has to build a ginger bread house for her.

We all were so confused at home and laughed very hard. We are not Americans. We are Christians who celebrate Christmas. But we had no clue what is a ginger bread house, what does it has to do with Christianity or Judaism. I honestly think that the little Jewish girl is so confused (and perhaps has parents who are clueless).

Reading this thread helps me to understand the mentality of American jewish

There is no “mentality of the American Jewish.” Jews who have roots all over the world, in many denominations, live all over the US. In fact, I live in a small town with one synagogue in our whole region, with Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and humanist members, and we’re having trouble with our rabbi search because many of us don’t agree with what we need for our congregation as Jews.

Please don’t let one snotty comment from a child lead you to those beliefs about all American Jews.

How do you even know the girl said that? This is 2nd hand, from a child whose first language who may not even be English, to a parent whose first language is not English. I seriously doubt the Jewish girl instructed PP's daughter to make a gingerbread house for her. More likely she just said that she wouldn't be doing it. As she should -- a gingerbread house is a traditional Christmas craft. Yes, it can be secular, but a Jewish family is perfectly within their rights to decline to do traditional Christmas crafts IN SCHOOL.

I know it from my child, that I clearly posted in my message. English is her native language, along with few others. You don't know my child, you don't know the Jewish girl, but you chose to accuse my child of lying or misinterpreting information. The girl didn't just said that she cannot do it, but clearly said that my daughter has to do it for her. We are not talking about 2nd grade children, we are talking about kids who are 12-13 years old, who can understand perfectly what has been said.

I found it funny because there is nothing in Christianity about gingerbread house, so no, I don't consider it Christmas tradition at all. Maybe it is a secular tradition in some countries like Germany, but it is not a Christian tradition. We are Christian family and we never ever made a ginerbread house at all.

I never said that the particular Jewish family was wrong in declining anything (they can decline any courses offered by public school, it is not my business). I think they are confused about Christian traditions. And the proper course of action for the Jewish girl would be to discuss it with the school administration, not with the other students. The girl and her parent received the school curriculum for each subject that they had to sign. If the parent don't agree with some aspects of the curriculum, they should contact a teacher or a counselor at school to discuss their issues with the ginerbread house.

Oh shove it lady. You don't know or care anything about American Jews and yet are on here lecturing.

Thank you, Lady. You are very kind. I am learning a lot about American Jews from this thread indeed

You're forming prejudices about Jewish people based on anonymous internet postings? That's ... not great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, thank you for this thread. We just moved to this country, and my kid just went to middle school here. First day she comes back and tells us that when her science teacher announced that in the end of the year they are going to build a ginger bread house as a science project. Immediately, the girl who was siting next to my daughter turned to her and told her that because she is Jewish, my daughter has to build a ginger bread house for her.

We all were so confused at home and laughed very hard. We are not Americans. We are Christians who celebrate Christmas. But we had no clue what is a ginger bread house, what does it has to do with Christianity or Judaism. I honestly think that the little Jewish girl is so confused (and perhaps has parents who are clueless).

Reading this thread helps me to understand the mentality of American jewish

There is no “mentality of the American Jewish.” Jews who have roots all over the world, in many denominations, live all over the US. In fact, I live in a small town with one synagogue in our whole region, with Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and humanist members, and we’re having trouble with our rabbi search because many of us don’t agree with what we need for our congregation as Jews.

Please don’t let one snotty comment from a child lead you to those beliefs about all American Jews.

How do you even know the girl said that? This is 2nd hand, from a child whose first language who may not even be English, to a parent whose first language is not English. I seriously doubt the Jewish girl instructed PP's daughter to make a gingerbread house for her. More likely she just said that she wouldn't be doing it. As she should -- a gingerbread house is a traditional Christmas craft. Yes, it can be secular, but a Jewish family is perfectly within their rights to decline to do traditional Christmas crafts IN SCHOOL.

I know it from my child, that I clearly posted in my message. English is her native language, along with few others. You don't know my child, you don't know the Jewish girl, but you chose to accuse my child of lying or misinterpreting information. The girl didn't just said that she cannot do it, but clearly said that my daughter has to do it for her. We are not talking about 2nd grade children, we are talking about kids who are 12-13 years old, who can understand perfectly what has been said.

I found it funny because there is nothing in Christianity about gingerbread house, so no, I don't consider it Christmas tradition at all. Maybe it is a secular tradition in some countries like Germany, but it is not a Christian tradition. We are Christian family and we never ever made a ginerbread house at all.

I never said that the particular Jewish family was wrong in declining anything (they can decline any courses offered by public school, it is not my business). I think they are confused about Christian traditions. And the proper course of action for the Jewish girl would be to discuss it with the school administration, not with the other students. The girl and her parent received the school curriculum for each subject that they had to sign. If the parent don't agree with some aspects of the curriculum, they should contact a teacher or a counselor at school to discuss their issues with the ginerbread house.

Gingerbread houses might not be Christian, but they are part of the Christmas celebration. Santa is also secular, but I sure don’t want my Jewish child doing any school projects that involve him.

Where do you come down on snowmen?

As far as I know, it snows on everyone in our region, and it’s a human trait to recognize and create people in inanimate objects ...Snow is not something that forced assimilation.

Snow is not, but the snowman is. Same thing is with evergreen trees and decorated evergreen trees. So how you chose to accept a snowman, but not a decorated tree?

Hm. The first recorded evidence of a snowman was actually a Jewish figure (who was, I admit, present at the crucifixion). But scholars assume that since snow has fallen, people have built snowmen in their own images, and very little ties historical snowmen to Christmas...not even that first one. Frosty the Snowman makes so reference to Christmas in the original song, and barely mentions it in the movie. So, I’m not sure what your point is.

Where are the ties of the evergreen tree to the birth of Christ?

There are none. But a decorated evergreen tree is a traditional symbol of Christmas (first German, then English via Queen Victoria’s husband, then American), while snowmen are just symbols of winter. So, again, what’s your point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, thank you for this thread. We just moved to this country, and my kid just went to middle school here. First day she comes back and tells us that when her science teacher announced that in the end of the year they are going to build a ginger bread house as a science project. Immediately, the girl who was siting next to my daughter turned to her and told her that because she is Jewish, my daughter has to build a ginger bread house for her.

We all were so confused at home and laughed very hard. We are not Americans. We are Christians who celebrate Christmas. But we had no clue what is a ginger bread house, what does it has to do with Christianity or Judaism. I honestly think that the little Jewish girl is so confused (and perhaps has parents who are clueless).

Reading this thread helps me to understand the mentality of American jewish

There is no “mentality of the American Jewish.” Jews who have roots all over the world, in many denominations, live all over the US. In fact, I live in a small town with one synagogue in our whole region, with Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and humanist members, and we’re having trouble with our rabbi search because many of us don’t agree with what we need for our congregation as Jews.

Please don’t let one snotty comment from a child lead you to those beliefs about all American Jews.

How do you even know the girl said that? This is 2nd hand, from a child whose first language who may not even be English, to a parent whose first language is not English. I seriously doubt the Jewish girl instructed PP's daughter to make a gingerbread house for her. More likely she just said that she wouldn't be doing it. As she should -- a gingerbread house is a traditional Christmas craft. Yes, it can be secular, but a Jewish family is perfectly within their rights to decline to do traditional Christmas crafts IN SCHOOL.

I know it from my child, that I clearly posted in my message. English is her native language, along with few others. You don't know my child, you don't know the Jewish girl, but you chose to accuse my child of lying or misinterpreting information. The girl didn't just said that she cannot do it, but clearly said that my daughter has to do it for her. We are not talking about 2nd grade children, we are talking about kids who are 12-13 years old, who can understand perfectly what has been said.

I found it funny because there is nothing in Christianity about gingerbread house, so no, I don't consider it Christmas tradition at all. Maybe it is a secular tradition in some countries like Germany, but it is not a Christian tradition. We are Christian family and we never ever made a ginerbread house at all.

I never said that the particular Jewish family was wrong in declining anything (they can decline any courses offered by public school, it is not my business). I think they are confused about Christian traditions. And the proper course of action for the Jewish girl would be to discuss it with the school administration, not with the other students. The girl and her parent received the school curriculum for each subject that they had to sign. If the parent don't agree with some aspects of the curriculum, they should contact a teacher or a counselor at school to discuss their issues with the ginerbread house.

Gingerbread houses might not be Christian, but they are part of the Christmas celebration. Santa is also secular, but I sure don’t want my Jewish child doing any school projects that involve him.

Where do you come down on snowmen?

As far as I know, it snows on everyone in our region, and it’s a human trait to recognize and create people in inanimate objects ...Snow is not something that forced assimilation.

Snow is not, but the snowman is. Same thing is with evergreen trees and decorated evergreen trees. So how you chose to accept a snowman, but not a decorated tree?

Hm. The first recorded evidence of a snowman was actually a Jewish figure (who was, I admit, present at the crucifixion). But scholars assume that since snow has fallen, people have built snowmen in their own images, and very little ties historical snowmen to Christmas...not even that first one. Frosty the Snowman makes so reference to Christmas in the original song, and barely mentions it in the movie. So, I’m not sure what your point is.

Where are the ties of the evergreen tree to the birth of Christ?

There are none. But a decorated evergreen tree is a traditional symbol of Christmas (first German, then English via Queen Victoria’s husband, then American), while snowmen are just symbols of winter. So, again, what’s your point?

The decorated evergreen for solstice has a history much older than Xmas

https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, thank you for this thread. We just moved to this country, and my kid just went to middle school here. First day she comes back and tells us that when her science teacher announced that in the end of the year they are going to build a ginger bread house as a science project. Immediately, the girl who was siting next to my daughter turned to her and told her that because she is Jewish, my daughter has to build a ginger bread house for her.

We all were so confused at home and laughed very hard. We are not Americans. We are Christians who celebrate Christmas. But we had no clue what is a ginger bread house, what does it has to do with Christianity or Judaism. I honestly think that the little Jewish girl is so confused (and perhaps has parents who are clueless).

Reading this thread helps me to understand the mentality of American jewish

There is no “mentality of the American Jewish.” Jews who have roots all over the world, in many denominations, live all over the US. In fact, I live in a small town with one synagogue in our whole region, with Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and humanist members, and we’re having trouble with our rabbi search because many of us don’t agree with what we need for our congregation as Jews.

Please don’t let one snotty comment from a child lead you to those beliefs about all American Jews.

How do you even know the girl said that? This is 2nd hand, from a child whose first language who may not even be English, to a parent whose first language is not English. I seriously doubt the Jewish girl instructed PP's daughter to make a gingerbread house for her. More likely she just said that she wouldn't be doing it. As she should -- a gingerbread house is a traditional Christmas craft. Yes, it can be secular, but a Jewish family is perfectly within their rights to decline to do traditional Christmas crafts IN SCHOOL.

I know it from my child, that I clearly posted in my message. English is her native language, along with few others. You don't know my child, you don't know the Jewish girl, but you chose to accuse my child of lying or misinterpreting information. The girl didn't just said that she cannot do it, but clearly said that my daughter has to do it for her. We are not talking about 2nd grade children, we are talking about kids who are 12-13 years old, who can understand perfectly what has been said.

I found it funny because there is nothing in Christianity about gingerbread house, so no, I don't consider it Christmas tradition at all. Maybe it is a secular tradition in some countries like Germany, but it is not a Christian tradition. We are Christian family and we never ever made a ginerbread house at all.

I never said that the particular Jewish family was wrong in declining anything (they can decline any courses offered by public school, it is not my business). I think they are confused about Christian traditions. And the proper course of action for the Jewish girl would be to discuss it with the school administration, not with the other students. The girl and her parent received the school curriculum for each subject that they had to sign. If the parent don't agree with some aspects of the curriculum, they should contact a teacher or a counselor at school to discuss their issues with the ginerbread house.

Gingerbread houses might not be Christian, but they are part of the Christmas celebration. Santa is also secular, but I sure don’t want my Jewish child doing any school projects that involve him.

Where do you come down on snowmen?

As far as I know, it snows on everyone in our region, and it’s a human trait to recognize and create people in inanimate objects ...Snow is not something that forced assimilation.

Snow is not, but the snowman is. Same thing is with evergreen trees and decorated evergreen trees. So how you chose to accept a snowman, but not a decorated tree?

Hm. The first recorded evidence of a snowman was actually a Jewish figure (who was, I admit, present at the crucifixion). But scholars assume that since snow has fallen, people have built snowmen in their own images, and very little ties historical snowmen to Christmas...not even that first one. Frosty the Snowman makes so reference to Christmas in the original song, and barely mentions it in the movie. So, I’m not sure what your point is.

Where are the ties of the evergreen tree to the birth of Christ?

There are none. But a decorated evergreen tree is a traditional symbol of Christmas (first German, then English via Queen Victoria’s husband, then American), while snowmen are just symbols of winter. So, again, what’s your point?

+1. The idea that something has to be tied directly to the birth of Christ or other explicitly religious aspects of the holiday to be considered a symbol related to the holiday is misplaced. Having said that, even as a Jew who doesn't celebrate Christmas, I am not losing sleep about my kids doing tree related art at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, thank you for this thread. We just moved to this country, and my kid just went to middle school here. First day she comes back and tells us that when her science teacher announced that in the end of the year they are going to build a ginger bread house as a science project. Immediately, the girl who was siting next to my daughter turned to her and told her that because she is Jewish, my daughter has to build a ginger bread house for her.

We all were so confused at home and laughed very hard. We are not Americans. We are Christians who celebrate Christmas. But we had no clue what is a ginger bread house, what does it has to do with Christianity or Judaism. I honestly think that the little Jewish girl is so confused (and perhaps has parents who are clueless).

Reading this thread helps me to understand the mentality of American jewish

There is no “mentality of the American Jewish.” Jews who have roots all over the world, in many denominations, live all over the US. In fact, I live in a small town with one synagogue in our whole region, with Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and humanist members, and we’re having trouble with our rabbi search because many of us don’t agree with what we need for our congregation as Jews.

Please don’t let one snotty comment from a child lead you to those beliefs about all American Jews.

How do you even know the girl said that? This is 2nd hand, from a child whose first language who may not even be English, to a parent whose first language is not English. I seriously doubt the Jewish girl instructed PP's daughter to make a gingerbread house for her. More likely she just said that she wouldn't be doing it. As she should -- a gingerbread house is a traditional Christmas craft. Yes, it can be secular, but a Jewish family is perfectly within their rights to decline to do traditional Christmas crafts IN SCHOOL.

I know it from my child, that I clearly posted in my message. English is her native language, along with few others. You don't know my child, you don't know the Jewish girl, but you chose to accuse my child of lying or misinterpreting information. The girl didn't just said that she cannot do it, but clearly said that my daughter has to do it for her. We are not talking about 2nd grade children, we are talking about kids who are 12-13 years old, who can understand perfectly what has been said.

I found it funny because there is nothing in Christianity about gingerbread house, so no, I don't consider it Christmas tradition at all. Maybe it is a secular tradition in some countries like Germany, but it is not a Christian tradition. We are Christian family and we never ever made a ginerbread house at all.

I never said that the particular Jewish family was wrong in declining anything (they can decline any courses offered by public school, it is not my business). I think they are confused about Christian traditions. And the proper course of action for the Jewish girl would be to discuss it with the school administration, not with the other students. The girl and her parent received the school curriculum for each subject that they had to sign. If the parent don't agree with some aspects of the curriculum, they should contact a teacher or a counselor at school to discuss their issues with the ginerbread house.

Gingerbread houses might not be Christian, but they are part of the Christmas celebration. Santa is also secular, but I sure don’t want my Jewish child doing any school projects that involve him.

Where do you come down on snowmen?

As far as I know, it snows on everyone in our region, and it’s a human trait to recognize and create people in inanimate objects ...Snow is not something that forced assimilation.

Snow is not, but the snowman is. Same thing is with evergreen trees and decorated evergreen trees. So how you chose to accept a snowman, but not a decorated tree?

Hm. The first recorded evidence of a snowman was actually a Jewish figure (who was, I admit, present at the crucifixion). But scholars assume that since snow has fallen, people have built snowmen in their own images, and very little ties historical snowmen to Christmas...not even that first one. Frosty the Snowman makes so reference to Christmas in the original song, and barely mentions it in the movie. So, I’m not sure what your point is.

Where are the ties of the evergreen tree to the birth of Christ?

There are none. But a decorated evergreen tree is a traditional symbol of Christmas (first German, then English via Queen Victoria’s husband, then American), while snowmen are just symbols of winter. So, again, what’s your point?

The decorated evergreen for solstice has a history much older than Xmas

https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees

But it s a symbol of Christmas here and now, in America in 2018, having come from the above lineage. Please stop trying to Christian-splain my observances and trying to catch me in some sort of hypocrisy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, we never did growing up and I find it inappropriate. In a mixed marriage and my husband will sometimes have it but my kids and I have no interest in it. They prefer 8 days/Hanukkah vs. Christmas but maybe because they get most of their gifts then.

Very funny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Christmas and Valentines Day are secular now, Guys. Enjoy!

Well so are Rosh Hahahah and Yom Kippur --- just join Machar, the Jewish secular synagogue, to see that they are secular!

So if that is part of your heritage or not, you can enjoy! Not that I see why non-Jews every embracing our most important holidays.

But, please don't tell us Jews that because Christmas, which celebrates the birth of a person who other worship as a god, has become secular, Jews should embrace it. It's commendable for Jews to keep their unique culture and not assimilate with the majority Christian culture. I personally admire Jews who show that Christmas is not an "American" holiday any more than Hanukkah is -- American means diverse religions so no religious holiday is an "American" one.

I think we Jews should embrace it. We can still keep our culture and assimilate at the same time.

NP. And how is that working out for us? 75% of Reform Jews intermarry and they and their kids predictably stop keeping any traditions. The only Jewish movement that’s actually growing is Orthodox. Because they refuse to assimilate.

How often descendants of immigrants keep their culture after the 1st generation? My parents are Jewish immigrants and they raised me with a culture as an adult I choose not to care for.

So you're not Jewish. You're not a Jew who celebrates Christmas. You're someone who used to be Jewish, and now follows the majority holiday practices.

One still retains their Jewish heritage- that never goes away- your ancestry doesn’t change just because you celebrate Christmas. So they are non practicing Jews who celebrate Christmas in a non religious way. They are Jews but just non practicing.

That's only if you believe Jews are a racial group. You wouldn't say that about any kind of Christian, Muslim, Hindu, etc. that was totally non-practicing, a non-believer, and held as a personal value that he/she should fully assimilate into the majority (Christian) culture in all ways.

I don't know who you are, but you have an agenda.

No sorry that argument doesn’t work... do you want to try again?

Yup.

PP: JEWS ARE A RACIAL GROUP. Look it up. Ashkenazi and Sephardic are racial groups. When my husband and I did our genetic screenings while I was pregnant, we had to get the Ashkenazi Jew panel, which includes screenings for diseases like Tay Sachs, which is much more common among Ashkenazi Jews. I did the 23 and me thing last year and came up with 50% Ashenazi. My husband came up with 75%. We could never set foot in shul again and that would still never change. We will always be Jewish.

You are simply ignorant.

I think you're the ignorant one. My DS's 23andme would likely show around 60% Ashkenazi. His dad is a secular Jew, and we aren't raising him Jewish in any meaningful way. The way things are going he will NOT be Jewish, depsite his genetics. Judaism is a religion and culture, which can absolutely be lost if you don't maintain connections to it.

No no no no no.

Your son is ethnically Jewish. Why deny it?

There are literally haplogroups distinct to Ashkenazi Jews. It is an ethnicity.

Again, if you answer what "ethnicity" means to you, that might be helpful. Obviously I agree that my DS has ethnically Ashkenazi genes. What's the point beyond that? He won't identify as "Jewish" the way things are headed now. So he's ethnically ASHKENAZI, not ethnically Jewish. Just like I am ethnically Irish/Celtic, not ethnically Irish Catholic.

That's it

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Anonymous wrote:Christmas and Valentines Day are secular now, Guys. Enjoy!

Well so are Rosh Hahahah and Yom Kippur --- just join Machar, the Jewish secular synagogue, to see that they are secular!

So if that is part of your heritage or not, you can enjoy! Not that I see why non-Jews every embracing our most important holidays.

But, please don't tell us Jews that because Christmas, which celebrates the birth of a person who other worship as a god, has become secular, Jews should embrace it. It's commendable for Jews to keep their unique culture and not assimilate with the majority Christian culture. I personally admire Jews who show that Christmas is not an "American" holiday any more than Hanukkah is -- American means diverse religions so no religious holiday is an "American" one.

I think we Jews should embrace it. We can still keep our culture and assimilate at the same time.

NP. And how is that working out for us? 75% of Reform Jews intermarry and they and their kids predictably stop keeping any traditions. The only Jewish movement that’s actually growing is Orthodox. Because they refuse to assimilate.

How often descendants of immigrants keep their culture after the 1st generation? My parents are Jewish immigrants and they raised me with a culture as an adult I choose not to care for.

So you're not Jewish. You're not a Jew who celebrates Christmas. You're someone who used to be Jewish, and now follows the majority holiday practices.

One still retains their Jewish heritage- that never goes away- your ancestry doesn’t change just because you celebrate Christmas. So they are non practicing Jews who celebrate Christmas in a non religious way. They are Jews but just non practicing.

That's only if you believe Jews are a racial group. You wouldn't say that about any kind of Christian, Muslim, Hindu, etc. that was totally non-practicing, a non-believer, and held as a personal value that he/she should fully assimilate into the majority (Christian) culture in all ways.

I don't know who you are, but you have an agenda.

No sorry that argument doesn’t work... do you want to try again?

Yup.

PP: JEWS ARE A RACIAL GROUP. Look it up. Ashkenazi and Sephardic are racial groups. When my husband and I did our genetic screenings while I was pregnant, we had to get the Ashkenazi Jew panel, which includes screenings for diseases like Tay Sachs, which is much more common among Ashkenazi Jews. I did the 23 and me thing last year and came up with 50% Ashenazi. My husband came up with 75%. We could never set foot in shul again and that would still never change. We will always be Jewish.

You are simply ignorant.

I think you're the ignorant one. My DS's 23andme would likely show around 60% Ashkenazi. His dad is a secular Jew, and we aren't raising him Jewish in any meaningful way. The way things are going he will NOT be Jewish, depsite his genetics. Judaism is a religion and culture, which can absolutely be lost if you don't maintain connections to it.

No no no no no.

Your son is ethnically Jewish. Why deny it?

There are literally haplogroups distinct to Ashkenazi Jews. It is an ethnicity.

Again, if you answer what "ethnicity" means to you, that might be helpful. Obviously I agree that my DS has ethnically Ashkenazi genes. What's the point beyond that? He won't identify as "Jewish" the way things are headed now. So he's ethnically ASHKENAZI, not ethnically Jewish. Just like I am ethnically Irish/Celtic, not ethnically Irish Catholic.

And PS: one of the reasons, among others, that he won't identify as Jewish is because he thinks Christmas is better than Hannukah. Fact. Sorry.

If Judaism is reduced to Hannukah the game is already lost.

So I'm supposed to teach him that by dint of the slight majority of Ashkenazi genes, he's Jewish and not Catholic?

If you want to raise him as Catholic, that is your choice. Just don't blame "hanukah is not as good as christmas" for his desire to not identify as Jewish. Jews who participate more fully in Judaism are not as obsessed with the christmas vs hanukkah comparison.

I think you're missing my point. My point is that if you do nothing to raise your child Jewish and rely just on being ethnically Jewish, AND on top of that celebrate Christmas, you're going to have a kid who does not identify as Jewish. Deliberately not celebrating Christmas would actually go a long way to establishing a more Jewish identity even if you do nothing else, because it teaches the child that they are different, and even that they have to sacrifice something other kids get (Christmas). Kids are not dumb; they actually get that these things are not just days they get presents on.

BS.

Why are you even speaking English?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:OP, thank you for this thread. We just moved to this country, and my kid just went to middle school here. First day she comes back and tells us that when her science teacher announced that in the end of the year they are going to build a ginger bread house as a science project. Immediately, the girl who was siting next to my daughter turned to her and told her that because she is Jewish, my daughter has to build a ginger bread house for her.

We all were so confused at home and laughed very hard. We are not Americans. We are Christians who celebrate Christmas. But we had no clue what is a ginger bread house, what does it has to do with Christianity or Judaism. I honestly think that the little Jewish girl is so confused (and perhaps has parents who are clueless).

Reading this thread helps me to understand the mentality of American jewish

There is no “mentality of the American Jewish.” Jews who have roots all over the world, in many denominations, live all over the US. In fact, I live in a small town with one synagogue in our whole region, with Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and humanist members, and we’re having trouble with our rabbi search because many of us don’t agree with what we need for our congregation as Jews.

Please don’t let one snotty comment from a child lead you to those beliefs about all American Jews.

How do you even know the girl said that? This is 2nd hand, from a child whose first language who may not even be English, to a parent whose first language is not English. I seriously doubt the Jewish girl instructed PP's daughter to make a gingerbread house for her. More likely she just said that she wouldn't be doing it. As she should -- a gingerbread house is a traditional Christmas craft. Yes, it can be secular, but a Jewish family is perfectly within their rights to decline to do traditional Christmas crafts IN SCHOOL.

I know it from my child, that I clearly posted in my message. English is her native language, along with few others. You don't know my child, you don't know the Jewish girl, but you chose to accuse my child of lying or misinterpreting information. The girl didn't just said that she cannot do it, but clearly said that my daughter has to do it for her. We are not talking about 2nd grade children, we are talking about kids who are 12-13 years old, who can understand perfectly what has been said.

I found it funny because there is nothing in Christianity about gingerbread house, so no, I don't consider it Christmas tradition at all. Maybe it is a secular tradition in some countries like Germany, but it is not a Christian tradition. We are Christian family and we never ever made a ginerbread house at all.

I never said that the particular Jewish family was wrong in declining anything (they can decline any courses offered by public school, it is not my business). I think they are confused about Christian traditions. And the proper course of action for the Jewish girl would be to discuss it with the school administration, not with the other students. The girl and her parent received the school curriculum for each subject that they had to sign. If the parent don't agree with some aspects of the curriculum, they should contact a teacher or a counselor at school to discuss their issues with the ginerbread house.

Gingerbread houses might not be Christian, but they are part of the Christmas celebration. Santa is also secular, but I sure don’t want my Jewish child doing any school projects that involve him.

Where do you come down on snowmen?

As far as I know, it snows on everyone in our region, and it’s a human trait to recognize and create people in inanimate objects ...Snow is not something that forced assimilation.

Snow is not, but the snowman is. Same thing is with evergreen trees and decorated evergreen trees. So how you chose to accept a snowman, but not a decorated tree?

Hm. The first recorded evidence of a snowman was actually a Jewish figure (who was, I admit, present at the crucifixion). But scholars assume that since snow has fallen, people have built snowmen in their own images, and very little ties historical snowmen to Christmas...not even that first one. Frosty the Snowman makes so reference to Christmas in the original song, and barely mentions it in the movie. So, I’m not sure what your point is.

Where are the ties of the evergreen tree to the birth of Christ?

There are none. But a decorated evergreen tree is a traditional symbol of Christmas (first German, then English via Queen Victoria’s husband, then American), while snowmen are just symbols of winter. So, again, what’s your point?

The decorated evergreen for solstice has a history much older than Xmas

https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees

But it s a symbol of Christmas here and now, in America in 2018, having come from the above lineage. Please stop trying to Christian-splain my observances and trying to catch me in some sort of hypocrisy.

You did that yourself.

I guess we have a different view of the word "traditional". I favor "oldest & original tradition and meaning" and you favor "MY tradition and meaning".

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:OP, thank you for this thread. We just moved to this country, and my kid just went to middle school here. First day she comes back and tells us that when her science teacher announced that in the end of the year they are going to build a ginger bread house as a science project. Immediately, the girl who was siting next to my daughter turned to her and told her that because she is Jewish, my daughter has to build a ginger bread house for her.

We all were so confused at home and laughed very hard. We are not Americans. We are Christians who celebrate Christmas. But we had no clue what is a ginger bread house, what does it has to do with Christianity or Judaism. I honestly think that the little Jewish girl is so confused (and perhaps has parents who are clueless).

Reading this thread helps me to understand the mentality of American jewish

There is no “mentality of the American Jewish.” Jews who have roots all over the world, in many denominations, live all over the US. In fact, I live in a small town with one synagogue in our whole region, with Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and humanist members, and we’re having trouble with our rabbi search because many of us don’t agree with what we need for our congregation as Jews.

Please don’t let one snotty comment from a child lead you to those beliefs about all American Jews.

How do you even know the girl said that? This is 2nd hand, from a child whose first language who may not even be English, to a parent whose first language is not English. I seriously doubt the Jewish girl instructed PP's daughter to make a gingerbread house for her. More likely she just said that she wouldn't be doing it. As she should -- a gingerbread house is a traditional Christmas craft. Yes, it can be secular, but a Jewish family is perfectly within their rights to decline to do traditional Christmas crafts IN SCHOOL.

I know it from my child, that I clearly posted in my message. English is her native language, along with few others. You don't know my child, you don't know the Jewish girl, but you chose to accuse my child of lying or misinterpreting information. The girl didn't just said that she cannot do it, but clearly said that my daughter has to do it for her. We are not talking about 2nd grade children, we are talking about kids who are 12-13 years old, who can understand perfectly what has been said.

I found it funny because there is nothing in Christianity about gingerbread house, so no, I don't consider it Christmas tradition at all. Maybe it is a secular tradition in some countries like Germany, but it is not a Christian tradition. We are Christian family and we never ever made a ginerbread house at all.

I never said that the particular Jewish family was wrong in declining anything (they can decline any courses offered by public school, it is not my business). I think they are confused about Christian traditions. And the proper course of action for the Jewish girl would be to discuss it with the school administration, not with the other students. The girl and her parent received the school curriculum for each subject that they had to sign. If the parent don't agree with some aspects of the curriculum, they should contact a teacher or a counselor at school to discuss their issues with the ginerbread house.

Gingerbread houses might not be Christian, but they are part of the Christmas celebration. Santa is also secular, but I sure don’t want my Jewish child doing any school projects that involve him.

Where do you come down on snowmen?

As far as I know, it snows on everyone in our region, and it’s a human trait to recognize and create people in inanimate objects ...Snow is not something that forced assimilation.

Snow is not, but the snowman is. Same thing is with evergreen trees and decorated evergreen trees. So how you chose to accept a snowman, but not a decorated tree?

Hm. The first recorded evidence of a snowman was actually a Jewish figure (who was, I admit, present at the crucifixion). But scholars assume that since snow has fallen, people have built snowmen in their own images, and very little ties historical snowmen to Christmas...not even that first one. Frosty the Snowman makes so reference to Christmas in the original song, and barely mentions it in the movie. So, I’m not sure what your point is.

Where are the ties of the evergreen tree to the birth of Christ?

There are none. But a decorated evergreen tree is a traditional symbol of Christmas (first German, then English via Queen Victoria’s husband, then American), while snowmen are just symbols of winter. So, again, what’s your point?

The decorated evergreen for solstice has a history much older than Xmas

https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees

But it s a symbol of Christmas here and now, in America in 2018, having come from the above lineage. Please stop trying to Christian-splain my observances and trying to catch me in some sort of hypocrisy.

You did that yourself.

I guess we have a different view of the word "traditional". I favor "oldest & original tradition and meaning" and you favor "MY tradition and meaning".

Sigh. There’s no hypocrisy here. If you can’t see the difference between “a snowman has never meant ‘Christmas,’” and “a decorated tree means Christmas here and now in America” (not my meaning, but an accepted symbol for the majority of folks who live here), then I just can’t argue with you. That’s what a “symbol” is.

Listen, I’m the PP who lives in a community with one synagogue that every Jew of every belief goes to because it’s the only one in the region. My kid is the only Jew in his class. I know from assimilation and being “different.” This line of conversation has gotten icky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, thank you for this thread. We just moved to this country, and my kid just went to middle school here. First day she comes back and tells us that when her science teacher announced that in the end of the year they are going to build a ginger bread house as a science project. Immediately, the girl who was siting next to my daughter turned to her and told her that because she is Jewish, my daughter has to build a ginger bread house for her.

We all were so confused at home and laughed very hard. We are not Americans. We are Christians who celebrate Christmas. But we had no clue what is a ginger bread house, what does it has to do with Christianity or Judaism. I honestly think that the little Jewish girl is so confused (and perhaps has parents who are clueless).

Reading this thread helps me to understand the mentality of American jewish

There is no “mentality of the American Jewish.” Jews who have roots all over the world, in many denominations, live all over the US. In fact, I live in a small town with one synagogue in our whole region, with Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and humanist members, and we’re having trouble with our rabbi search because many of us don’t agree with what we need for our congregation as Jews.

Please don’t let one snotty comment from a child lead you to those beliefs about all American Jews.

How do you even know the girl said that? This is 2nd hand, from a child whose first language who may not even be English, to a parent whose first language is not English. I seriously doubt the Jewish girl instructed PP's daughter to make a gingerbread house for her. More likely she just said that she wouldn't be doing it. As she should -- a gingerbread house is a traditional Christmas craft. Yes, it can be secular, but a Jewish family is perfectly within their rights to decline to do traditional Christmas crafts IN SCHOOL.

I know it from my child, that I clearly posted in my message. English is her native language, along with few others. You don't know my child, you don't know the Jewish girl, but you chose to accuse my child of lying or misinterpreting information. The girl didn't just said that she cannot do it, but clearly said that my daughter has to do it for her. We are not talking about 2nd grade children, we are talking about kids who are 12-13 years old, who can understand perfectly what has been said.

I found it funny because there is nothing in Christianity about gingerbread house, so no, I don't consider it Christmas tradition at all. Maybe it is a secular tradition in some countries like Germany, but it is not a Christian tradition. We are Christian family and we never ever made a ginerbread house at all.

I never said that the particular Jewish family was wrong in declining anything (they can decline any courses offered by public school, it is not my business). I think they are confused about Christian traditions. And the proper course of action for the Jewish girl would be to discuss it with the school administration, not with the other students. The girl and her parent received the school curriculum for each subject that they had to sign. If the parent don't agree with some aspects of the curriculum, they should contact a teacher or a counselor at school to discuss their issues with the ginerbread house.

Gingerbread houses might not be Christian, but they are part of the Christmas celebration. Santa is also secular, but I sure don’t want my Jewish child doing any school projects that involve him.

Where do you come down on snowmen?

As far as I know, it snows on everyone in our region, and it’s a human trait to recognize and create people in inanimate objects ...Snow is not something that forced assimilation.

Snow is not, but the snowman is. Same thing is with evergreen trees and decorated evergreen trees. So how you chose to accept a snowman, but not a decorated tree?

Hm. The first recorded evidence of a snowman was actually a Jewish figure (who was, I admit, present at the crucifixion). But scholars assume that since snow has fallen, people have built snowmen in their own images, and very little ties historical snowmen to Christmas...not even that first one. Frosty the Snowman makes so reference to Christmas in the original song, and barely mentions it in the movie. So, I’m not sure what your point is.

Where are the ties of the evergreen tree to the birth of Christ?

There are none. But a decorated evergreen tree is a traditional symbol of Christmas (first German, then English via Queen Victoria’s husband, then American), while snowmen are just symbols of winter. So, again, what’s your point?

The decorated evergreen for solstice has a history much older than Xmas

https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees

But it s a symbol of Christmas here and now, in America in 2018, having come from the above lineage. Please stop trying to Christian-splain my observances and trying to catch me in some sort of hypocrisy.

You did that yourself.

I guess we have a different view of the word "traditional". I favor "oldest & original tradition and meaning" and you favor "MY tradition and meaning".

My last post on this topic, I think:

If you’re Jewish and explaining to me why you decorate a tree, I have no beef with you. Enjoy your tree.

If you’re not Jewish, and you’re trying to tell me that I should decorate a tree or I’m some sort of hypocrite, that’s where I have a problem.