Let's be clear, if Berkenwald wants to walk around sulking and feeling down during the happiest time of the year in America, that's her right. After all, she has the same liberty as any other American including the right to be a downer. What gets me is why she's pushing her unhappiness on others? I mean it's one thing to do what she's advocating privately, but to push others to bring everyone down is mean-sprited.
For example she writes that Christians don't understand "what it feels like to be a 'lonely Jew on Christmas'". Which Jews are lonely? Maybe Berkenwald, but not most Jews. No, most of us are merrily enjoying Chinese food and movie. In fact, I'd venture to say more Jews celebrate Christmas than the second day of Rosh HaShannah. And nobody's locking the doors on our ghettos keeping us away from Christmas parties, many Jews do in fact celebrate with their Christian friends -- a fact ignored by Bukenwald.
She also writes, "What Badzin seems to have forgotten is that sometimes begin a Jew during Christmas time in America is hard". Really? What's so hard? Being merrily wished good cheer, people smiling, uplifting songs, parties, colorful lights? I guess by Berkenwald's standards birthday parties are a real nusiance too. And in terms of exclusivity, birthdays beat Christmas hands down. While Christmas is religiously celebrated by over 90% of Americans and is a national holiday to all I'm sorry to say, a person's birthday includes just .000000003% of the population. I think you may need more than Diversity 101 to stop this arrogant affront to inclusiveness.
Finally, why doesn't Berkenwald acknowledge what Badzin implys but never states directly -- we're not excluded from the freedom to practice our holidays, why should Christians be excluded from theirs? I mean seriously, if we really want to be accurate, then shouldn't the argument for Happy Holidays to include Jews be made for Labor Day and Halloween? That's when five of the eight most important Jewish holidays occur. They include Rosh HaShannah, Yom Kippur, Succot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah. They are all biblically mandated as opposed to Channukah, which is not only rabbinic in orgin making it less important, but the book of Macabees is actually in the Christian bible!! And the reality is that most Jews who argue the loudest against Christmas, I know not all, do not celebrate most of these holidays, let alone our Sabbath, which happens each and every week.
So Happy Holidays Grinch, from the one Jew in Who-ville who still feels included in her neighbors biggest holy day of the year!
Let's be clear, if Berkenwald wants to walk around sulking and feeling down during the happiest time of the year in America, that's her right. After all, she has the same liberty as any other American including the right to be a downer. What gets me is why she's pushing her unhappiness on others? I mean it's one thing to do what she's advocating privately, but to push others to bring everyone down is mean-sprited.
For example she writes that Christians don't understand "what it feels like to be a 'lonely Jew on Christmas'". Which Jews are lonely? Maybe Berkenwald, but not most Jews. No, most of us are merrily enjoying Chinese food and movie. In fact, I'd venture to say more Jews celebrate Christmas than the second day of Rosh HaShannah. And nobody's locking the doors on our ghettos keeping us away from Christmas parties, many Jews do in fact celebrate with their Christian friends -- a fact ignored by Bukenwald.
She also writes, "What Badzin seems to have forgotten is that sometimes begin a Jew during Christmas time in America is hard". Really? What's so hard? Being merrily wished good cheer, people smiling, uplifting songs, parties, colorful lights? I guess by Berkenwald's standards birthday parties are a real nusiance too. And in terms of exclusivity, birthdays beat Christmas hands down. While Christmas is religiously celebrated by over 90% of Americans and is a national holiday to all I'm sorry to say, a person's birthday includes just .000000003% of the population. I think you may need more than Diversity 101 to stop this arrogant affront to inclusiveness.
Finally, why doesn't Berkenwald acknowledge what Badzin implys but never states directly -- we're not excluded from the freedom to practice our holidays, why should Christians be excluded from theirs? I mean seriously, if we really want to be accurate, then shouldn't the argument for Happy Holidays to include Jews be made for Labor Day and Halloween? That's when five of the eight most important Jewish holidays occur. They include Rosh HaShannah, Yom Kippur, Succot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah. They are all biblically mandated as opposed to Channukah, which is not only rabbinic in orgin making it less important, but the book of Macabees is actually in the Christian bible!! And the reality is that most Jews who argue the loudest against Christmas, I know not all, do not celebrate most of these holidays, let alone our Sabbath, which happens each and every week.
So Happy Holidays Grinch, from the one Jew in Who-ville who still feels included in her neighbors biggest holy day of the year!