dave@lsuc.UUCP (David Sherman) (12/17/84)
The article below comes from "To Raise A Jewish Child", by
Rabbi Hayim Donin (Basic Books, New York, 1977). I highly
recommend the book to any Jew, whether observant or not, who
has (or may one day have) children.
What to Do About Christmas
Absolutely nothing! Jewish parents would do well not to get so
upset at the very real holiday spirit that pervades all of America
during the month of December. Recognize it for what it is -- an
important Christian holiday. Since most Americans identify with
Christianity, the penetration of the holiday into the secular
domain is inevitable. Don't try to fight it by going overboard
on Hanukah, or by trying to imitate Christmas within the Hanukah
framework. You don't have to harbor a sense of guilt about enjoying
the holiday spirit of a neighbor. Feel free to extend wishes to your
non-Jewish friends and neighbors so that they may have an enjoyable
Christmas hoiday. But, as for your own family, it's simply not yours
to observe.
If you fear the impact of Christmas, the best way to counter-
balance it is to provide your children with the excitement of all the
Jewish festivals all through the year. Jewish children have very
colorful and gala festivites on Passover, on Sukkot, on Simhat Torah,
and on Purim, as well as on Hanukah. They are not in dire need of
celebrating a Christian holiday.
Parents err when they try to build up Hanukah as the Jewish
equivalent to Christmas. First of all, Christmas an Hanukah are not
on the same level of religious importance within their respective
traditions. Christmas is one of the two *major* Christian festivals;
Hanukah is one of several *minor* Jewish holidays. Furthermore, in
the American environment Hanukah cannot possibly be made as exciting
to your children as they sense Christmas to be. Hanukah's observance
is confined to the home and religious school. Christmas is in the
public domain. Why should parents try to make the equation and have
Hanukah pale by comparison.
Synagogues unfortunately contribute to this exaggerated
buildup and to Hanukah's distorted weight in the Jewish religious
calendar. Synagogues annually publish the blessings for the
lighting of the Hanukah candles in their bulletins, but they
do not regularly publish the blessings for other rituals such as
for the Sabbath candles, the lulav and etrog, the tallit and tefillen,
the Kiddush, the Havdalah, and so on.
Some parents strive to offset the influence of Christmas
by giving their children gifts on all eight days of Hanukah. This
is very expensive and totally unnecessary. It suggests to the child
that the Jewish way is preferable because gifts are more plentiful!
In its own modest way, Hanukah can be plenty of fun if you plan
family celebrations or special activities.
"To Raise a Jewish
Child", pp. 124-125.
Dave Sherman
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