I just wrapped a whole bunch of presents, in, get this, sesame street wrapping paper, with colorful bows on top. Yes, they look really nice. And the irony struck me that this is exactly what the goyim do for Christmas, and then it struck me even harder when I placed them next to a miniature Christmas tree as a joke.
I'm having a family Chanukah party tomorrow, and I prepared gifts for a grabbag. It's supposed to be cute, nothing expensive, just chatchkelach like hand sanitizer, toe socks, a lint roller, pringles, markers, etc etc, you get my drift. Cute funny prizes.
Someone pointed out to me that Jews are not supposed to give presents on Chanuka. I'm not sure if that's true, and I'd like to see a source if there is one and anyone knows of it. I know we give money on the 5th night, believe me, I look forward to that tradition every year. That's when my father happily hands me money, and it's rightfully mine, as opposed to all the other times I use his credit card for things I need, and convince myself that he'll be okay with it.
Where do we draw the line though? Where's the line between funny and cute, like when I admire the Christmas lights and decorations, and being kofer batorah, like when I sing a Christmas carol cuz I like how it sounds, or pose by a Christmas tree, or even, gasp! say the word Christmas, instead of X-mas, cratsmach, or any other funny word that people use to avoid saying yoshkes name.
Chanukah is such a big holiday. It has so much light, and so much meaning. It should be special and separate, and holy, and a time to publicize, and learn, and grow, and be happy, and smile, and iceskate. And eat donuts and latkes and chocolate coins and play dreidel and light the menorah and spend time with family and laugh and love and learn and keep talking like this run-on sentance until you are so out of breath and you are ready to collapse just like your dreidel.
On a separate note: ever heard of drunk dreidel? I have presonally never played it, I haven't even played dreidel yet this year, but I do want to try it. Sounds like fun, even though I know that drinking isn't very chassidish for a Jewish maidel. Hello? Ever heard of orange juice?
Okay well I'm not a tree hugger, and I don't say yoshkes name, unless I'm talking about J-lovers, and how theyre wrong. And no, I don't really sing Christmas carols, unless they are playing in the mall, and I happen to sing along, don't ask me how I know the words. And G-d forbid will I buy a Christmas tree, besides the small one I bought for a dollar as a joke.
I'm a Jew, I'm a good Jew.
Happy Chanuka, I'm making donuts tomorrow!!! Any special orders need to be requested in advance. Other than that, anyone who wants a free donut and some good holiday cheer is welcome.
Raise your cup, say lechaim, and drink it dooooooown!!!
I was once at a Tanya class, in which the rabbi was discussing the idea of eating food during the week for one's sustenance vs. for pleasure. Somebody asked him if he thinks it's realistic for people today and what should people do, etc., etc. He answered: "I don't think Alter Rebbe wanted us to have such drawn-out conversations about food. If you want to eat your ice cream, eat it already and shut up about it. Don't sit and discuss how much worse plain chocolate is over chocolate with cherries." [OK, I made up the last bit, but it was something along those lines.]
ReplyDeletejust because there is a carroll street, doesnt mean that christmas songs (carols) are spelled that way
ReplyDeleteCA- so, do it and dont discuss it, vizehu?
ReplyDeleteOr don't do it. But don't obsess about it. (Reminds me of a conversation with my friend today whether to say Yechi. My verdict was: say it, don't say it, I don't care. But don't spend so much time worrying about it. Make a decision and move on.)
ReplyDeleteAs long as we have a problem and have a natural aversion to Christimas, I think such nuances as to what to call it are not important. To be honest, I have a bigger problem with Jews celebrating Thanksgiving than humming a carol.
I don't really see how admiring Christmas lights is different from admiring a church (from the outside obviously). One way or another. I've done it, I've felt guilty about it, I've moved on.
ok well, i had to write about something, that's what came to mind. you have a better idea?
ReplyDeletemoving on. that seems to be the theme in my life.
How about another obnoxious post about how Greeks were all rational but G-dless and Jews were all G-dly but irrational?.. Hmm...
ReplyDeleteMoving on? You should name your blog that. Har-har...
another? who wrote the first one?
ReplyDeletelol. it's jokes like that that make me laugh, and then snort.
They are floating around. Most of the mamosh frum bloggers wrote about it one way or another. Or so it would seem.
ReplyDeleteI think e should write a post about how this attitude is an example of everything that's wrong with religion in general and Yiddishkeit in particular. And I'll write a post in which I'll make a lame attempt to reconcile reason with belief and the seeming need to have a solid logical foundation for Yiddishkeit with emunah pshuta.
Too much beer. Not enough fish.
ReplyDeletetoo many yidish words, too late at night, make it stop!
ReplyDeleteare you saying i'm not a mamosh frum blogger? are you saying you're drunk? what are you saying?
I said "most".
ReplyDeleteVos mir zeinen, zeinen mir, ober something something something...
ReplyDeletei hardly ever try to be like 'most'. gnite.
ReplyDeletelol. lemme know when u figure out the last few words.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a good thing. Good night.
ReplyDeleteI know the last words. As I was writing them, I chocked.
ReplyDeletelol. ouch. so nu? what does it mean?
ReplyDelete"What we are, we are. But [at least] we are chassidim." ("...ober chassidim zeinen mir.") It sounds better in Yiddish.
ReplyDeletethats a relief. if only it were true...
ReplyDeleteWe dress up on Purim because Italians did carnivals in Venice.
ReplyDeleteBut of course, Italian carnivals were neutral, while Christmas is a"z.
"How about another obnoxious post about how Greeks were all rational but G-dless and Jews were all G-dly but irrational?"
ReplyDeleteYou wouldn't be referring to a post like this, would you? About how Greeks and their intellectual heirs worship reason, while Jews worship Hashem?
Rabbi, haha, no, your posts are not obnoxious. Even though I may disagree with some things.
ReplyDelete