What kind of adversity have you faced? Or has it been an easy transition by those close to you? I remember at first that I tried to get my parents and siblings not to celebrate it with me, and I felt terrible with how upset it made them.

Even if someday they realize I am right about the fact that Christmas has nothing to do with Yeshua, it is not my place to condemn them. It is between me and G-d why I don’t celebrate, and it is not their problem. Even if my reasons for choosing to overlook christmas in my life, i shouldn’t judge others because they don’t take the journey with me.

Anyways, I was just wondering how it was for you that first year? I kind of feel lame since I am reading this post two years after it was written.

In His name, keep fighting the good fight! We don’t make decisions to be popular because our reward is in Heaven.

Up until two years ago, I celebrated christmas. I am a christian, and although the “season” is associated with all sorts of wonderful memories, I started questioning it one day. Where did it come from? What does a christmas tree have to do with baby Jesus? I did some research and was shocked. It is definitely not Christian. It is rooted in deep paganism, and the original ancient disgusting rituals have been cloaked in merriment and Jesus. But really, it has no Biblical basis. So why do people celebrate it? Because it’s just what they’ve always done.

Even if I still felt that way, you are right about it now being driven by consumerism compared to 20 years ago. I don’t condemn people who do celebrate it, but I feel that for myself and my family, the reasons not to celebrate it outweigh the reasons for celebrating it. And that brings us to today. It maybe would bring me closer to the people around me, but it’s farce to say it brings me in closer communion with my G-d.

“Millions of my people died for practicing their religion throughout history. So yes, …. it matters to me that non-Jews show, if not respect for Judaism, at least recognition that there are believers who practice different religions than they do.”

It’s the elephant in the room: way down deep, Christianity, especially this time of year when it’s everywhere, certainly does strike a raw nerve with me and probably most Jews, because of two thousand years of second-class citizenship, lies, myths, persecution, murder and genocide mostly at the hands of people who called themselves Christians. I wouldn’t use Verbeek’s word “arrogant”; “defensive” and “fearful” are probably closer to the truth.

Please don’t take any of this personally. I’m in no way suggesting it’s rational, or fair, or sensible, or healthy. The people who did this stuff are long dead. But whether it makes logical sense is beside the point. This sort of thing is deeply ingrained, at a very visceral level, passed down through the generations, shaped by history.

It’s taken me most of my life, and a good deal of therapy, to even be able to recognize it for what it is and put it into words.

I have no wish to rain on anyone else’s parade. I’m sure this is a wonderful time of year for Christians. I’ve progressed to the point that I can usually appreciate and respond in kind to nice wishes sent my way. Just please recognize that we would prefer not to participate in any of it, and allow us the respect and freedom to ignore it in peace.

Enjoy your “otherness.”

Thank you, we do and we will.

Why does it even matter what religion one practices

Only someone who is either an atheist or a member of a majority religion could make such a statement. There is an amazing amt. of presumptuousness in it. Millions of my people died for practicing their religion throughout history. So yes, it does matter that I be allowed to practice this specific one. And it matters to me that non-Jews show, if not respect for Judaism, at least recognition that there are believers who hold by diff. religions than they do.

None of us would ever make it a point to emhasize the differences

It is precisely the differences between religions and human belief that make humans most interesting so yes, I believe in understanding & appreciating those difference.

someone bestowed a nice wish on someone.

In social interactions, it is important not only to take into account the intent of the party bestowing the wish, but also the person “receiving” it. The “wish” has no positive meaning to me since I reject the religion on which the wish is based (even if the person isn’t cognizant of the religious connotation of the wish).

My people have died throughout history because they either weren’t Christian or refused to become Christian. So yes, it means something to me when even innocently someone assumes that I am.

Jews never say “Happy Hanukah” to someone unless they know they are Jewish. So I don’t believe yr claim–at least not in the form you made it above.

My goal is life is not to write something “pleasant” enough for you to feel comfortable or good about it. My goal is to express my feelings & views about religion, politics, culture & other issues. If my writing is too sharp, grating or ungrateful or whatever, the issue is something you’ll have to deal with.

Fred, you wrote this in response to my prior posting:

Regarding what you said to your son “Good for you. Give ‘em what for. We’re not the same as the rest of you and proud of it too.”

What? You’re better than the rest of the world or something?

Fred wrote: Huh? That illogical leap makes no sense at all. “Not the same” does NOT mean “better than”. It just means “different”.

Fred, Obviously, I know what “not the same” and “better than” mean. It is however the context of “not the same” and the intonation, that make a person sound arrogant.

If someone says to me: “I am not the same as you and proud of it too”, I would feel belittled and shoved aside.
Why does it even matter what religion one practices, what one looks like? I can’t tell you how many different races, religions etceteras we had walking through this house, even married into the family. None of us would ever make it a point to emhasize the differences (“we’re not the same …” as you).

To Richard:

For goodness sake, someone bestowed a nice wish on someone.
Why freak out so much and get mad because someone assumed you were a Christian? Then dwell on one unfortunate event and pin that on all Christmas celebraters, making them all responsible? That is really a stretch of the imagination.

I have also noticed, Richard, that you didn’t post anything about the many times I have been wished and celebrated Hannukah, even though I am not Jewish.
I would never think or say to any Jewish person: I am different than you and proud of it too.

I find the words you pick very unpleasant and I suspect that you enjoy all the fighting and arguing where there needs to be none.

Hopefully, next year you can write your post around Christmas on a happier note or in any event in a more pleasant tone.