Merry Chrismuka
"Jingle Bells, Santa Smells," the yeshivish people sing to parody the popular christmas song."It's so annoying, everywhere I go I hear this stupid Kratzmich music," they complain. Others lament of 106.7's decision to play Christmas music from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
Nobody likes seeing the Christmas themed CVS and Duane Reade decor, and the Coke bottles. There are some Rebeim who have told their students that don't buy coke with Santa on the label. But there are many Jews who drive around specific neighborhoods to admire the handiwork on the decorated houses.
All that's okay and all, but I find that in today's agnostic culture, especially in NY, Christmas is not a celebration of Jesus' birth. It's a warm, loving, but stressful time to get together with family (that you may or may not like) and give and receive presents. And pig out.
Admit it, doesn't Christmas kinda look appealing? I think people still think of this as some religious ceremony, which it no longer is to many Americans. I think frum people denying that are like saying that KFC doesn't look good. Or whatever treif food appeals to them. Obviously KFC looks good, and probably tastes good, and perhaps isn't good for us, but don't we all secretly wish we could just taste it?
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Labels: goyish
posted by Michelle @ 6:04 PM
9 Comments:
Happy New Year to you!
Your blog has given me much pleasure in the past year--I like your fearless spirit and spunk. You are an exceptional writer and mensch.
Dear Michelle,
My daughter and I walk through our neighbourhood during Chanukah to see the Menorah's lit in windows. We also have a few dreidles hanging on our Xmas tree. It's not meant to be disrespectful to the Jewish beliefs but our family likes to have a "taste" of the Jewish side too. The grass is always greener....
Happy New Year...well I guess your new year started in October? Best wishes for this special time of year anyway!
Having tasted kosher KFC in Israel, it IS pretty good - so we are missing out somewhat. And while I agree that modern-day Christmas and New Years are pretty much secular days that do have a certain appeal (yes, I watched the ball drop with the rest of the Western world - went to a friend's house, hung out with a bunch of people we know, and watched a movie), there is something to be said about not getting too much into the spirit of their holidays - "bechukoseihem lo teileichu" sometimes means avoiding things that above and beyond clear-cut avodah zarah...
The correct attitude towards proscribed desires is "Yes, doing/not doing X would probably be very nice, give me pleasure, and the world wouldn't come crashing down, but I know that my tafkid as a Jew is to keep God's torah, and get my pleasures in permissible ways." To mention nothing of the sound condemnation that Chazal give to the attitude of "redifa achar ha'ta'avos"... [cf. "Materialism" by Rav A. Twerski on torahweb.org]
Pleasure is OK, comfort is OK, it just shouldn't be the sole end and main goal of our existance.
you mention the coke bottles- my kids have always called Santa "soda man". since they were little, they had no idea that it was anything more. When we pass big blow up santas they say "look there's soda man!"
I heard a caller on a local talk show call in and say she is christian, and she celebrates Hanukah cuz she likes the traditions! go figure! the goyims are celebrating Hanukah, and the Jews are singing carols! ah meghugeneh velt
the santa in red and white was a marketing creation of the coca cola company. so he is the soda man.
also a chusid has a nice post up about a jewish boy who loves christmas, or at least the warm family get-together aspect of it. It's beautiful despite itself.
im not so sure that its not a religious holiday to many. i think many go to midnite mass - or at least watch it on tv :) but regardless, i think its silly when poeple make a "big deal" abuot these things.
as to your issue about kfc.. well ive had that stuff in the past, and today when i look at it it repulses me.. im not fooling myself, or making beleive i dont want it. i really dont.. but im not sure why.
You ripped off this title from an episode of the O.C.
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