Jews with Christmas/Holiday trees

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jewish Americans never got the memo that it’s no longer cool to appropriate WASP culture.

There’s a difference between appropriation and assimilation. You can’t appropriate the majority culture; if you take aspects of that culture, you’re assimilating.

False.

[Anonymous]

Jews get jealous of Christmas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are Jewish. DD goes to a Jewish preschool. We are getting a Christmas tree this year because DD wants one.

I don’t care what anyone thinks. Honestly.

Nor should you. But do you have a sense of where you would draw the line in terms of things DD might want after seeing friends or society more broadly doing, but you don't fee comfortable with? (I am talking about religious issues specifically, not if DD wants a pony or to go to the Swiss Alps like her friends.)

[Anonymous]

Eh. All religions are made up by men anyway... so do what you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of all you Jewish folks getting Christmas trees, did ANY of you build and decorate sukkahs this year? You know that you can do that right? A sukkah can have pine branches, can be decorated not just with gourds but with electric lights, hanging things, even strung popcorn if you are brave.

Are you going to celebrate Tu B'shvat?

That you probably did not think of doing that, is the real problem with Christmas trees.

PP, you seem to have a very narrow view - perhaps what is right for you is not right for other Jews.

The point that pp is making that you have missed is that Judaism has fun, meaningful holidays and traditions that a lot of Jews don’t pay attention to but they are so eager to celebrate others’ religious traditions. Jews have holidays that are more fun and celebratory than any Christian holidays and many who choose to celebrate Christian traditions don’t even know it. Purim comes to mind. Sukkot. Simchat Torah. Pp is not narrow for pointing this out. Quite the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of all you Jewish folks getting Christmas trees, did ANY of you build and decorate sukkahs this year? You know that you can do that right? A sukkah can have pine branches, can be decorated not just with gourds but with electric lights, hanging things, even strung popcorn if you are brave.

Are you going to celebrate Tu B'shvat?

That you probably did not think of doing that, is the real problem with Christmas trees.

PP, you seem to have a very narrow view - perhaps what is right for you is not right for other Jews.

The point that pp is making that you have missed is that Judaism has fun, meaningful holidays and traditions that a lot of Jews don’t pay attention to but they are so eager to celebrate others’ religious traditions. Jews have holidays that are more fun and celebratory than any Christian holidays and many who choose to celebrate Christian traditions don’t even know it. Purim comes to mind. Sukkot. Simchat Torah. Pp is not narrow for pointing this out. Quite the opposite.

Ok -- I'm a Jew who has celebrated Purim and Sukkot (though not Simchat Torah). You're not going to convince me dressing up like Esther or building a Sukkah (although fun) is as fun as Christmas. There's just SO much to the Christmas celebrations, from the carols to the pretty decorations, Santa Claus, etc. There are also all the Christmas movies and the whole atmosphere surrounding the secular side of the celebration. Since Christianity dominates the culture of the Western World, dozens more traditions have developed than the ones surrounding Jewish holidays.

You can argue that Jews should stick to celebrating our own holidays--and I can see that--but don't try to convince anyone that Jewish holidays are as fun as Christmas. Not by a long shot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eh. All religions are made up by men anyway... so do what you want.

Agree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of all you Jewish folks getting Christmas trees, did ANY of you build and decorate sukkahs this year? You know that you can do that right? A sukkah can have pine branches, can be decorated not just with gourds but with electric lights, hanging things, even strung popcorn if you are brave.

Are you going to celebrate Tu B'shvat?

That you probably did not think of doing that, is the real problem with Christmas trees.

PP, you seem to have a very narrow view - perhaps what is right for you is not right for other Jews.

The point that pp is making that you have missed is that Judaism has fun, meaningful holidays and traditions that a lot of Jews don’t pay attention to but they are so eager to celebrate others’ religious traditions. Jews have holidays that are more fun and celebratory than any Christian holidays and many who choose to celebrate Christian traditions don’t even know it. Purim comes to mind. Sukkot. Simchat Torah. Pp is not narrow for pointing this out. Quite the opposite.

Ok -- I'm a Jew who has celebrated Purim and Sukkot (though not Simchat Torah). You're not going to convince me dressing up like Esther or building a Sukkah (although fun) is as fun as Christmas. There's just SO much to the Christmas celebrations, from the carols to the pretty decorations, Santa Claus, etc. There are also all the Christmas movies and the whole atmosphere surrounding the secular side of the celebration. Since Christianity dominates the culture of the Western World, dozens more traditions have developed than the ones surrounding Jewish holidays.

You can argue that Jews should stick to celebrating our own holidays--and I can see that--but don't try to convince anyone that Jewish holidays are as fun as Christmas. Not by a long shot.

I honestly don't care who celebrates what. I don't really celebrate anything. However, in strong Jewish communities, families celebrate Jewish holidays together, year after year, not just in Sunday school and not sometimes yes, sometimes no. These families do not crave a holiday like Christmas because they already have them in Judaism. I have a feeling I know how you celebrated Jewish holidays because I probably celebrated them similarly and they hold no attraction for me at this point. I have seen how other more observant Jews observe Jewish holidays and they go all out with their communities year after year-- much like people who celebrate Christmas. For people like you and me, celebrating Christmas is much easier because we live in a mostly Christian society. Jews must seek out other Jews to celebrate with. In Israel, do you think the Jews want to celebrate Christmas? No-- because they are in the majority and have other Jews to celebrate their own holidays with. The bottom line is that most Jews who live in a more secular or Christian environment are not as likely to make the effort to celebrate Jewish holidays when it is so much easier to take on the holidays of the majority. You probably never learned how to celebrate Jewish holidays in a meaningful way-- and I am not saying this as someone who is superior or casting judgment. I never celebrated the holidays the way observant Jews did except when I was visiting my observant relatives. Then I saw how they celebrated. This really comes down to a lifestyle choice. If you wanted the Jewish celebrations, you would make them happen. Christmas is a lot easier if you are not living in a Jewish community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eh. All religions are made up by men anyway... so do what you want.

Agree

THANK YOU

+ 1,000,000

Also, one of the things I love about Judaism is the willingness to debate and disagree. So let's respect that we're not going to come to an agreement on this, mmkay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of all you Jewish folks getting Christmas trees, did ANY of you build and decorate sukkahs this year? You know that you can do that right? A sukkah can have pine branches, can be decorated not just with gourds but with electric lights, hanging things, even strung popcorn if you are brave.

Are you going to celebrate Tu B'shvat?

That you probably did not think of doing that, is the real problem with Christmas trees.

PP, you seem to have a very narrow view - perhaps what is right for you is not right for other Jews.

The point that pp is making that you have missed is that Judaism has fun, meaningful holidays and traditions that a lot of Jews don’t pay attention to but they are so eager to celebrate others’ religious traditions. Jews have holidays that are more fun and celebratory than any Christian holidays and many who choose to celebrate Christian traditions don’t even know it. Purim comes to mind. Sukkot. Simchat Torah. Pp is not narrow for pointing this out. Quite the opposite.

Ok -- I'm a Jew who has celebrated Purim and Sukkot (though not Simchat Torah). You're not going to convince me dressing up like Esther or building a Sukkah (although fun) is as fun as Christmas. There's just SO much to the Christmas celebrations, from the carols to the pretty decorations, Santa Claus, etc. There are also all the Christmas movies and the whole atmosphere surrounding the secular side of the celebration. Since Christianity dominates the culture of the Western World, dozens more traditions have developed than the ones surrounding Jewish holidays.

You can argue that Jews should stick to celebrating our own holidays--and I can see that--but don't try to convince anyone that Jewish holidays are as fun as Christmas. Not by a long shot.

I don't know - the Purim carnival at my temple is pretty awesome. Most people I talk to find Xmas day itself kind of boring by comparison. Presents are opened by 10am and then a lot of my friends struggle with what to do for the rest of the day. Plus Shabbat every Friday night is special - sometimes I don't have my act together and we just eat frozen pizza but still we light the candles and the kids like it. Sukkot lasts a week-ish and is a great holiday for kids too. My kids have said to me "I feel bad for my Christian friends because they don't have as many holidays as we do." We sing Jewish songs - not sure why those are inherently worse than Xmas Carols. And we string up pretty blue lights for Hanukkah. And you can still watch Christmas Movies, except for Love Actually because that is the worst movie ever. https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/12/-em-love-actually-em-is-the-least-romantic-film-of-all-time/282091/

[Anonymous]

We are Jewish and getting a Holiday tree this year.

Why does anyone else care what we do or what we call it?

We all have more important things to talk and worry about than who has a pine tree with lights on it in their living room.

[Anonymous]

DH and I are atheists but we still celebrate Christmas with our DC. It’s a secular holiday at this point—being with family and being grateful for what you have at the end of the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Let me ask: okay, any Christians have a problem with this Jew getting a pine tree and putting lights on it?

No problem here. Enjoy yourself.

I welcome your participation! DH is Jewish and couldn’t wait until we got our first tree. He loves the tradition.

[Anonymous]

I am Jewish DH is Christian. I love participating in his family's tradition. Peace on Earth Goodwill to all. Its lovely. We do not have a tree only because we do not spend the holiday here. We have brought a menorah up there when Hanukah overlaps. They love the lights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jews get jealous of Christmas.

Jews who celebrate all the Jewish holidays don't.