DS attends Jewish preschool. Wants to celebrate Jewish holidays.

[Anonymous]

Op it’s up to you really.

Do you want to celebrate it? And how will it be different from you celebrating what you call “secular Christmas”?

It would be a “secular Hanukkah”. It really depends on how much trouble you are willing to go through and how much learning you’re willing to make. Just like with the secular Christmas, you can only take the most outward signs of a festivity, like getting a menorah and lighting it and giving your kid small presents. Just like you do Christmas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Jew here as well (raised fairly religious but now secular). I think I know what you mean, but I want to be clear to others - most Jews would welcome non-Jews to celebrations of Jewish holidays. It's very common for my family to invite non-Jews to Passover seder, for instance. But most Jews would not take kindly to giving information for non-Jews to do a non-religious celebration of a Jewish holiday. It's actually a very NON-inclusive religion, in that traditionally Jews view themselves as "the chosen people," and do not seek converts (in fact conversion to Judaism is a very difficult process).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I'm flattered but no, not to piss me off. To fill the hole in their hearts that religion should be filling. It's just so stupid to claim to not be religious and then CELEBRATE RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS. What sad people, to believe in nothing but then go out and adopt other people's celebrations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

We’re not that inclusive ... we don’t even try to convert people.

[Anonymous]

I just said we are not Jewish but if you want to celebrate Hanukkah we can but then we can’t do Christmas because it’s too much.

He said , oh okay, we can do Christmas.

It’s not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

We’re not that inclusive ... we don’t even try to convert people.

Inclusive is not the same as trying to convert.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just said we are not Jewish but if you want to celebrate Hanukkah we can but then we can’t do Christmas because it’s too much.

He said , oh okay, we can do Christmas.

It’s not a big deal.

You realize a lot of families do both, right? We’re interfaith and do both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

We’re not that inclusive ... we don’t even try to convert people.

Inclusive is not the same as trying to convert.

If you mean we welcome people into our homes to be part of our celebrations then yeah — fine.

But why would non-Jews light a menorah in their house? Is it not inclusive of me to think that’s weird? It’s a religious ritual.

[Anonymous]

For all the posters saying it is wrong to celebrate another religion's holidays.... Do you or your kids celebrate Halloween? I would bet you do. Or maybe your kids don't dress up and go trick treating and you just shelter in your house with your lights off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

We’re not that inclusive ... we don’t even try to convert people.

Inclusive is not the same as trying to convert.

If you mean we welcome people into our homes to be part of our celebrations then yeah — fine.

But why would non-Jews light a menorah in their house? Is it not inclusive of me to think that’s weird? It’s a religious ritual.

NP. Honestly who cares? How does what another does in their home affect what you do in yours? Them doing this in a manner they choose does not impact the religiosity of your own family’s custom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For all the posters saying it is wrong to celebrate another religion's holidays.... Do you or your kids celebrate Halloween? I would bet you do. Or maybe your kids don't dress up and go trick treating and you just shelter in your house with your lights off.

You claiming Halloween as a religious holiday at this point says more about you than anyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

We’re not that inclusive ... we don’t even try to convert people.

Inclusive is not the same as trying to convert.

If you mean we welcome people into our homes to be part of our celebrations then yeah — fine.

But why would non-Jews light a menorah in their house? Is it not inclusive of me to think that’s weird? It’s a religious ritual.

NP. Honestly who cares? How does what another does in their home affect what you do in yours? Them doing this in a manner they choose does not impact the religiosity of your own family’s custom.

Lighting a menorah isn’t just religious in my house.

Is it ok for a non-Christian to take communion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I'm flattered but no, not to piss me off. To fill the hole in their hearts that religion should be filling. It's just so stupid to claim to not be religious and then CELEBRATE RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS. What sad people, to believe in nothing but then go out and adopt other people's celebrations.

Yes I drink your milkshake.

Use more caps. The more the better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For all the posters saying it is wrong to celebrate another religion's holidays.... Do you or your kids celebrate Halloween? I would bet you do. Or maybe your kids don't dress up and go trick treating and you just shelter in your house with your lights off.

You claiming Halloween as a religious holiday at this point says more about you than anyone else.

Ahh... so holidays are only religious when they fit your narrative. Please tell us what we should believe.

[Anonymous]

I wish religious people would spend more energy being the kind of people the purport to be than telling other people about the kind of people they think they should be. Imagine how nice the world would be then?