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Have you noticed that Jews are the only people who distance themselves that far from Christmas (and Jehovas Witness)? I mean my Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist friends all join in. I take time to enjoy their holidays too, but to many Jews it seems like an "us and them" fight. I am not even religious and for the last 20 years have not had a tree, but I get into any fun holiday regardless of the religion. Now, more and more Jews are distancing themselves from Halloween? Can you all lighten up? Can you invite some non Jews to FUN Jewish holidays? i.e., not Passover. Every religion has fun holidays.

Hindu has no relation to Christian so there is no confusion for their children about religious significance. Muslim incorporates the New Testament and sees Jesus as a prophet so the holiday celebration can be seen as relevant. Judaism becomes Christianity with the belief in Jesus as the messiah, so it is important for some people that they make it clear to their children they don't celebrate. Some Russian Jews put up trees because it is a solstice tradition in Russia. Also, *very* few Jews are Scrooges. I don't put up Christmas decorations but I take my kids to celebrate with friends. Also, Passover is fun for kids. Just a note

Also, only very religious Jews distance themselves from Halloween and they always have.

This too is a cop out. You can't make the argument that Jewish children will be confused by Christmas but children who celebrate other religions are able to understand that people have different traditions. You are selling Jewish kids short by thinking that they need to be especially protected from Christmas. Jews don't have to (and wouldn't be expected to) bring Christmas into their own houses, but there is no reason to keep them from understanding that others celebrate and allowing them to participate in the celebrations of their friends in the manner that we all do with friends of different backgrounds because of worries that they will be confused.

Not the OP. I don't want my child to be tempted in any way to not be Jewish. I would prefer that my kid spend time celebrating his own holiday and learning about his own religion. Every day my kid is exposed to Chritianity. Every day there is one more temptation for him not to want to be Jewish. I have to do everything in my power to make sure my child has a strong Jewish identity. If that means not celebrating a holiday that celebrates the birth of another religion's messiah, so be it. I don't care whether other kids from other religions celebrate holidays that are not theirs. I only care that my child wants to carry on in our religion and marry someone else who is Jewish so that his children will also want to carry on the same way. Hitler killed too many of us. Intermarriage and conversion will take away the rest.

OP, this attitude is the epitome of what is wrong with the Jewish community in America today.

I would say that the majority of non-observant Jews do not share this point of view. The problem with the non-observant Jewish community is that it doesn't agree with this pov.

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OP, this attitude is the epitome of what is wrong with the Jewish community in America today.

It is a cop out to give you honest answers???? Do you have a menorah you light at your house every year? Do you celebrate the Chinese New Year when you're not Chinese???? I said I don't put out decorations but I do celebrate with others who celebrate Christmas. Want that your question????? One year a few families in the area (Kensington?) we're mad about a Christmas parade and, in response Jewish families showed up in Santa hats to demonstrate their support of the parade being held. Generally, Jews enjoy the holiday season in its entirety. You are looking for flaws with the Jewish community for some reason and your axe to grind has nothing to do with this thread or the OP.

FWIW, Jews don't see not putting up a tree as robbing their kids of enjoyment any more than you see the joy you rob your kids of by not taking them to Purim carnivals. Get a grip. Call child protective services and report me for lack of tree. Our kids are fine.

The point was that believing that a child can be tempted away from believing in a religion because they bother to take an interest in the holiday celebrations of their friends and neighbors of a different religion is the epitome of is wrong with this particular Jewish way of thinking. You sound like you do take an interest and you don't have an irrational fear of your children being tempted to convert because they shared Santa-shaped cookies with a friend.

You're clearly not reading my responses so I don't know why I bother. I said I DO celebrate with friends. My daughter helped decorate our neighbors tree this week! I just don't put up my own tree.

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Anonymous wrote:How is that Jews make up 1/4 of 1% (or so Ethan similar) of the world population and about 80% of the people I know are jewish? This is true at home, at work and even outside of this area.

You're obviously a smart person, hanging around with similar folks.

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You're clearly not reading my responses so I don't know why I bother. I said I DO celebrate with friends. My daughter helped decorate our neighbors tree this week! I just don't put up my own tree.