Happy Hanukkah

[WriterDom]

According to the Talmud, at the re-dedication following the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire, there was only enough consecrated olive oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, which was the length of time it took to press, prepare and consecrate fresh olive oil.

 

[intothewoods]

You're a couple of days early.

 

[WriterDom]

You're a couple of days early.

I wanted to be first. Impress some little Jewish princess.

 

[00Syd]

I forgot. Ooops.

 

[Homburg]

You're a couple of days early.

He's working overtime to kiss your ass I'd guess.

Happy Chanukah to those that celebrate!

 

[YourCaptor]

Wait, this is whats its all about? A re-dedication?

That is some hard core tradition.

I think you guys need to amp it up, add in like a seleucid goast warrior that goes around and scares the shit out of everyone while the eat olives. And gifts, lots of gifts.

 

[BiBunny]

Happy Hanukkah.

 

[intothewoods]

I wanted to be first. Impress some little Jewish princess.

Good luck.

He's working overtime to kiss your ass I'd guess.

Happy Chanukah to those that celebrate!

Mine? I ain't no princess.

Wait, this is whats its all about? A re-dedication?

That is some hard core tradition.

I think you guys need to amp it up, add in like a seleucid goast warrior that goes around and scares the shit out of everyone while the eat olives. And gifts, lots of gifts.

We have a ghost on Passover. Lighting the candles is a religious observance. There are a few festivities involved. The gifts came to fit in with American culture.

 

[Netzach]

greasy potatoes = better than random crap like socks and hershey's kisses.

 

[YourCaptor]

So do you guys do the whole Christmas thing just for fun too? Or is that not interesting, or taboo?

 

[intothewoods]

So do you guys do the whole Christmas thing just for fun too? Or is that not interesting, or taboo?

Well since we're all here together running the media, let me take a quick poll.

As for me, anyway, I do not celebrate Christmas.

What many Americans don't understand is that this is not about Hanukkah versus Christmas. I'm Jewish and quite culturally observant (i.e., celebrating holidays and practicing ritual) all year round. Every year at this time, however, Christmas celebrants are like, hey, there are Jews! What are they up to? And what's with Kwaanza?

The Christmas season seems to inspire people to learn about other cultures, which is great, but you really don't learn a whole lot about Jewish culture because you know what a latke is. It would be like if you lived in another country and on every July 4th everyone took an interest in your American-ness and said, hey, please come over and share what it is to be American - wear red, white and blue and eat hot dogs!

 

[Netzach]

So do you guys do the whole Christmas thing just for fun too? Or is that not interesting, or taboo?

Obligatory and boring as hell when intermarried to goyim. All the stress and none of the Jesusy comfort.

 

[Netzach]

If you're really interested in who we are, what we think and why, go to a seder. Considering that that was the Last Supper it might even be interesting on that level.

 

[BiBunny]

If you're really interested in who we are, what we think and why, go to a seder. Considering that that was the Last Supper it might even be interesting on that level.

I'm going to sound really ignorant and potentially offensive as hell, but where would one find a seder? How does one get invited?

I'm sorry if I sound stupid. I promise, I tried to Google, but I'm in mid-dispatch shift, so between the tards who don't understand what "Can I have the billing address for your credit card please?" and the thousand others beeping in, I couldn't make heads or tails of it.

 

[Netzach]

I'm going to sound really ignorant and potentially offensive as hell, but where would one find a seder? How does one get invited?

I'm sorry if I sound stupid. I promise, I tried to Google, but I'm in mid-dispatch shift, so between the tards who don't understand what "Can I have the billing address for your credit card please?" and the thousand others beeping in, I couldn't make heads or tails of it.

This isn't remotely stupid or offensive, and it's a hell of a lot easier for me to say "go to a seder" than it is for someone located where you are to actually do that.

It's simply not going to happen unless there is a concentration of more actively involved Jews than I am generally. My best guess is 1. University 2. Hillel House

The thing about the University/Hillel contingent is that they're used to an academic community they're generally proponents of come and see what we're about on an academic/curious/historical level - remember Jews don't actively try and convert anyone, just try and win over lapsed lost causes like me - the larger public Seder for the community at my college was very much about come one come all, most of it in English (which is the only way I'll do it, personally)

In lieu of actually going to one, you can read up on one - the text spoken during that evening is pretty much one of two important texts in the tradition, if you are talking holidays. The other important biggie is the Day of Atonement. The reform Jews I liked best explained both as important - one about you as an oppressed person, the other about you as an oppressor of others. This is the kind of stuff that keeps me poking around in the tradition at all, as my faith faith is totally nonexistent. If you can discuss the crappy human condition rationally inside that context, I'm down with it.

 

[BiBunny]

This isn't remotely stupid or offensive, and it's a hell of a lot easier for me to say "go to a seder" than it is for someone located where you are to actually do that.

It's simply not going to happen unless there is a concentration of more actively involved Jews than I am generally. My best guess is 1. University 2. Hillel House

The thing about the University/Hillel contingent is that they're used to an academic community they're generally proponents of come and see what we're about on an academic/curious/historical level - remember Jews don't actively try and convert anyone, just try and win over lapsed lost causes like me - the larger public Seder for the community at my college was very much about come one come all, most of it in English (which is the only way I'll do it, personally)

In lieu of actually going to one, you can read up on one - the text spoken during that evening is pretty much one of two important texts in the tradition, if you are talking holidays. The other important biggie is the Day of Atonement. The reform Jews I liked best explained both as important - one about you as an oppressed person, the other about you as an oppressor of others. This is the kind of stuff that keeps me poking around in the tradition at all, as my faith faith is totally nonexistent. If you can discuss the crappy human condition rationally inside that context, I'm down with it.

Cool, thank you.

I looked on the University's page. Somehow, we have a whole crapload of Christian groups, an "All Faith" group that my crazy ex-boyfriend started because, by God, he's Wiccan, and he's PROUD, and a Muslim group. No Jewish anything.

Fucking Southerners, LOL.

I'm down with reading up on them, though.

 

[YourCaptor]

Well since we're all here together running the media, let me take a quick poll.

As for me, anyway, I do not celebrate Christmas.

What many Americans don't understand is that this is not about Hanukkah versus Christmas. I'm Jewish and quite culturally observant (i.e., celebrating holidays and practicing ritual) all year round. Every year at this time, however, Christmas celebrants are like, hey, there are Jews! What are they up to? And what's with Kwaanza?

The Christmas season seems to inspire people to learn about other cultures, which is great, but you really don't learn a whole lot about Jewish culture because you know what a latke is. It would be like if you lived in another country and on every July 4th everyone took an interest in your American-ness and said, hey, please come over and share what it is to be American - wear red, white and blue and eat hot dogs!

I was just curious, since Christmas is so big and it’s everywhere. Impossible to avoid it, makes sense just have fun with it.

Like you said for example the 4th, I have no reason to take part in it but I do anyway. It’s like my one legal chance to blow shit up.

Or when we got all those new orleans folk, never thought I'd go to mardi gras, but then it came to me and that turned out fun too.

Obligatory and boring as hell when intermarried to goyim. All the stress and none of the Jesusy comfort.

I don’t get any jesusy comfort either. The family insist on going to church once a year, on Christmas, always the same thing, very boring. Outside of that it may as well not have any religious significance. The immediate family just comes together that one time, and uses Christmas as a catalyst to ignore that petty shit and just be nice instead.

It’s more of a nostalgia day, recollecting memories.

It also ties us back to the fatherland, the traditions there are way different and we keep them, keeps you in touch you know.

 

[intothewoods]

Obligatory and boring as hell when intermarried to goyim. All the stress and none of the Jesusy comfort.

Bwah ha ha!

I'm going to sound really ignorant and potentially offensive as hell, but where would one find a seder? How does one get invited?

I'm sorry if I sound stupid. I promise, I tried to Google, but I'm in mid-dispatch shift, so between the tards who don't understand what "Can I have the billing address for your credit card please?" and the thousand others beeping in, I couldn't make heads or tails of it.

Not at all ignorant or offensive.

I was just curious, since Christmas is so big and it’s everywhere. Impossible to avoid it, makes sense just have fun with it.

Like you said for example the 4th, I have no reason to take part in it but I do anyway. It’s like my one legal chance to blow shit up.

Or when we got all those new orleans folk, never thought I'd go to mardi gras, but then it came to me and that turned out fun too.

My example about the 4th was to illustrate the importance of Hanukkah in terms of what it means to be a Jew.

I don't avoid Christmas. I think it's a beautiful holiday, but it has no meaning for me personally. I've gone to other people's houses and shared in their traditions, and that is absolutely lovely and appreciated. I just have no reason to celebrate it in my home. Many people celebrate Christmas in a secular way, because although they are not religious, they love the ritual and tradition. I get that, but it makes no sense for me to adopt a holiday that is associated (regardless of its pagan origins) with the birth of Jesus Christ. My need for ritual and tradition is satisfied by other holidays that do have personal meaning for me.

 

[eastern sun]

I grew up with Christmas, and my husband grew up with Hannukah, so now we celebrate both with the kids.

Hannukah has turned out to be one of my kids' favorite holidays. We say the prayers and light the candles, and then in the glow of the candlelight my husband tells a rather irreverent, always hilarious story of the beseiged Israelites and the defense of the temple by the heroic Judah Maccabee. It is a slapstick tale of hapless military generals and outnumbered but lucky common folk, told in episodes over eight nights, with appropriately wild cliffhangers to end each episode.

No presents. Just a story by candlelight. And it beats Christmas in their eyes every year, which is always somewhat disappointing after the initial glee and all the presents are opened.

(We also celebrate both Easter and Passover, and BiBunny, if you're ever in New York in the spring, you would be welcome to come to our seder. It's a bit unorthodox, but a lively tradition nonetheless. We'd love to have you! It is quite common, by the way, for gentiles to be invited to seders and a lot of families open their houses to relative strangers for the celebration. Don't ever be shy about hinting for an invitation.)

 

[BiBunny]

I grew up with Christmas, and my husband grew up with Hannukah, so now we celebrate both with the kids.

Hannukah has turned out to be one of my kids' favorite holidays. We say the prayers and light the candles, and then in the glow of the candlelight my husband tells a rather irreverent, always hilarious story of the beseiged Israelites and the defense of the temple by the heroic Judah Maccabee. It is a slapstick tale of hapless military generals and outnumbered but lucky common folk, told in episodes over eight nights, with appropriately wild cliffhangers to end each episode.

No presents. Just a story by candlelight. And it beats Christmas in their eyes every year, which is always somewhat disappointing after the initial glee and all the presents are opened.

(We also celebrate both Easter and Passover, and BiBunny, if you're ever in New York in the spring, you would be welcome to come to our seder. It's a bit unorthodox, but a lively tradition nonetheless. We'd love to have you! It is quite common, by the way, for gentiles to be invited to seders and a lot of families open their houses to relative strangers for the celebration. Don't ever be shy about hinting for an invitation.)

Thank you, eastern_sun. I appreciate that!

 

[rosco rathbone]

G-d bless all my fellow pervert Jews here @ lit.

 

[graceanne]

Happy Hannukah!

My example about the 4th was to illustrate the importance of Hanukkah in terms of what it means to be a Jew.

Another good example would be to tell someone who celebrates Christmas to also celebrate Hannukkah. I think it's a beautiful, interesting holiday, but . . .

I just have no reason to celebrate it in my home. .

I grew up with Christmas, and my husband grew up with Hannukah, so now we celebrate both with the kids.

Hannukah has turned out to be one of my kids' favorite holidays. We say the prayers and light the candles, and then in the glow of the candlelight my husband tells a rather irreverent, always hilarious story of the beseiged Israelites and the defense of the temple by the heroic Judah Maccabee. It is a slapstick tale of hapless military generals and outnumbered but lucky common folk, told in episodes over eight nights, with appropriately wild cliffhangers to end each episode.

No presents. Just a story by candlelight. And it beats Christmas in their eyes every year, which is always somewhat disappointing after the initial glee and all the presents are opened.

(We also celebrate both Easter and Passover, and BiBunny, if you're ever in New York in the spring, you would be welcome to come to our seder. It's a bit unorthodox, but a lively tradition nonetheless. We'd love to have you! It is quite common, by the way, for gentiles to be invited to seders and a lot of families open their houses to relative strangers for the celebration. Don't ever be shy about hinting for an invitation.)

Sounds like entirely too much fun for the holidays. What are you thinking not to buy buy buy and work work work for a whole hours worth of fun?

 

[00Syd]

My dad's family, while ethnically Jewish, are the least Jew-y Jews I know (I assume from decades of living in the deep south and not wanting to stick out, although nobody in my dad's family ever talks about their family, so who knows). Anyway, my dad's family always celebrated Christmas, and the only Jewish holiday that they would celebrate was Hanukkah (although they didn't know much more about it than 'these are the days we light candles for some reason').

My mom grew up in a family much more connected to their Jewish roots. They celebrated all of the major Jewish holidays, and never Christmas.

So I get Christmas from my dad and Hanukkah from my mom. Growing up I always preferred Christmas more because, you know, PRESENTS, but I always enjoyed the traditions of Hanukkah, too. There is something really nice about being with your family doing something that your ancestors have been doing since forever. It feels good.

 

[WriterDom]

So you light two candles the first night and add one each night until you have nine burning?

 

[Homburg]

The Christmas season seems to inspire people to learn about other cultures, which is great, but you really don't learn a whole lot about Jewish culture because you know what a latke is. It would be like if you lived in another country and on every July 4th everyone took an interest in your American-ness and said, hey, please come over and share what it is to be American - wear red, white and blue and eat hot dogs!

Wait, that's not being an American? Fuck, I've been doing it all wrong.

MIS goes to a faculty meeting recently to find out that every teacher is supposed to pick one aspect or cultural tradition of Christmas and teach it, and the classes will rotate so that each class can learn that aspect. She was like, "Uh, I'm Jewish. I know nothing about Christmas. Can I do Hannukah instead?" So, now she is doing Hannukah for her grade, and the admin types are happy with the added diversity.

--

Obligatory and boring as hell when intermarried to goyim. All the stress and none of the Jesusy comfort.

There's Jesusy comfort? Fuck, I've been doing this all wrong too!