As we approach "Christmas season" here are a few things I (as an American Jew) personally don't mind and a few I hate with a burning passion (and I hear or see all the time)

Things I don't mind:


people who don't know I am a Jew wishing me a merry Christmas

people who don't know the dates of Hanukkah (it changes year to year because it is based off the Jewish calendar not the Gregorian one and even I have to look it up 20 times a year) or don't spell it correctly (it is a transliteration and there are many different "correct" ways to spell it)

Things I hate:

people trying to claim Christmas is not a religious holiday but a "family holiday" (this is absurd but I get it a lot from atheists/agnostics who were raised Christian and are trying to claim the fact they still celebrate some form of it has nothing to do with having been raised Christian (your experiences are not universal, it is a "family holiday" for your family because your family is Christian, I promise no one in my Jewish family thinks of it as a "family holiday")

Christians acting like Jews (and other non Christians) are unreasonable for getting annoyed at how Christmas focused everything and everyone around us is this time of year

Christians claiming Christmas is not specific to Christianity because many traditions are similar to ones used by other religions (this argument is especially shitty because Christianity stole those traditions to appeal to more converts from those religions)

Christians assuming because their one Jewish friend likes or is okay with something it is unreasonable for other Jews to not like or be okay with that thing

Businesses that use the word "holiday" to describe things that are red and green and covered in Christmas trees as if that actually makes them more inclusive

Christians insisting I should do Christmas traditions but use different words or change small things so I "don't miss out" (if a non Christian wants to do this they can make that choice but don't push it on people, I think I will survive without a “Hanukkah tree" in my house)

Christians calling Hanukkah "Jewish Christmas" (the two holidays are nothing alike and it is actually a pretty minor holiday in Judaism that only gets grouped with Christmas because of the time of year)

Christians acting like non Christians who don’t want to participate in Christmas focused activities or traditions are unreasonable or are being rude (it is not our religion and pushing things from your religion on us because you don't think of them as "that religious" is shitty. if we don’t want to go to a Christmas party with you or participate in your Secret Santa just respect that)

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note: This is just my personal opinion other Jews may feel differently and that is valid. Also these list are in no way exhaustive but these are some of the big ones for me.

#jew #jewish #judaism #religion #christmas #holidayseason #holidays

ATTENTION EVERYONE WRINGING THEIR HANDS OVER “#MASTODON ADMINS CAN READ MY DIRECT MESSAGES”: #SysAdmins have *always* been able to read your #email and DMs unless encrypted, including at the big #SocialNetworks and Internet providers. We used to have t-shirts that said, “I READ YOUR EMAIL.”

It’s just hitting now because you got used to places where the admins were kept away in their cubicles and data centers instead of greeting you at the front door.

#privacy #security #InfoSec #cybersecurity