Sunday, December 12, 2010
Tidings
Phoebe may insist that the one remaining criterion of American, assimilated, secular, modern, probably inter-married Judaism is the refusal to celebrate Christmas, but I don't feel particular beholden to such pointless crusades any longer. I, for one, love Christmas. I love lights and trees and songs and presents and huge retail markdowns. This year, to demonstrate my long-standing but never before enacted love of Christmas, I purchased this very small tree at Trader Joe's (shown with cat for scaling):
It's not much, I realize. I also realize that it's crooked and fairly ugly. But it's a start. Next year, bigger tree and nicer lights. And cookie baking! There will also be cookie baking! But not this year, because this year, there are finals instead. Aspiration is about 90% of the Christmas spirit though, so I think I'm doing it right.
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7 comments:
My main takeaway from this picture is wishing I weren't so allergic to cats!
But my point re: Jews and Christmas is that there's a phenomenon of secular Jews who don't have much in the way of a positive Jewish identity defining themselves (particularly when it comes to raising children) primarily by non-celebration of Christmas. Not that secular Jews with more enlightened, less neurotic takes on the holiday than the one I was raised with don't exist, or exist but should be told to sit in treeless misery.
As for negatively-defined Judaism as a "pointless crusade"... futile, perhaps, but it has a point.
Do you remember "The Loudest Voice" by Grace Paley?
I think you have a large tree and a simply enormous black panther. Cf. Team America.
Phoebe: Do you think that, as an historian of the Jews, you will have something more substantive to offer your children than non-Christmas someday? B/c I'm wondering if I should invest energy in that route before giving up and converting to Calvinism?
Withywindle: I often tell Nigel that he is a miniature panther to make him feel better about being a neutered housecat, and since he's rarely been outside, he may not be aware of the size of real trees, so I think he would like to think you are right.
MSI,
Technically my degree will be in French literature. I will offer any theoretical children almond croissants.
This is a dangerous course. In their longing for "something more spiritual," they might discover Chabad, and then all your croissant offers will have been for naught.
Dreidl-shaped croissants ("dreidlants"?) with centers of mixed marzipan and Belgian chocolate.
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