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From: teitz@aecom.UUCP (Eliyahu Teitz)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Re: Christmas {report} card
Message-ID: <1014@aecom.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 13-Dec-84 10:23:57 EST
Article-I.D.: aecom.1014
Posted: Thu Dec 13 10:23:57 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 16-Dec-84 05:07:05 EST
References: <2028@nsc.UUCP> <2031@nsc.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY
Lines: 46

> 
> Chuqui has inadvertantly brought up
> a problem to those of us who are not Christian,  particularly those
> of us who are Jewish. Christmas and Jews.
> >Being brought up in the Judeo-Christian ethic, Christmas has always been a
> >very important time in my life.   
> 	Christmas is not Jewish, has no roots in Judaism and is
> not related to any Jewish holiday.  Every year I am somewhat disturbed by
> otherwise caring and thinking people assuming that Jews celebrate Christmas.
> If you are Christian, do not assume that your Jewish friends celebrate
> Christmas!  Do not wish us a Merry Christmas!  You can wish Jews a Happy
> Chanuka since that runs from Dec 18(evening) to Dec 26(day).  Be aware
> that Chanuka is not an important holiday however.  It is only a very minor
> holiday and is often not celebrated in Israel.

   I agree to most of what you say. I don't know why you consider Channuka
 a minor holiday. It does not have the same status as a Torah commanded 
 holiday, but it is not minor. Also, bringing proofs from Israel isn't
 valid. After all, they celebrate Independence Day there and I do not consider
 it a holiday in any sense of the word.


> 	This does not mean that I or most Jews mind being invited to
> Christmas parties.  I am willing to join Christian friends in celebrating
> their holidays just as I often invite Christian friends to celebrate mine.

     Here I must disagree. Please do not speak for other Jews. If you
 don't mind attending christmas parties, that's your choice. I personally
 don't want to be invited the same as I prefer not being wished a merry
 christmas or even season's greetings. My religion is not their's and the
 sooner they realize it the better for us all. I would explain that I do 
 not celebrate their holidays and decline but I would prefer if they realized
 that I do not celebrate as they do.

> 	So don't buy Jewish friends Christmas presents or send us
> Christmas cards.  Remember people are all different and this time of
> year means something very different to Jews and Christians.
> 
> 			Jay Zelitzky
> 			{ihnp4,hplabs,decwrl}!nsc!myunive

       To this I also agree. The sooner our christian neighbors realize
 that there are other people with different beliefs, the sooner we will
 see peaceful coexistence.

				Eliyahu Teitz.