Comments on Rabbi Jason Miller - Blog: December Dilemma and Decorative Hanukkah Lights

The way I see it, it's clear that our "fe...

2012-01-09T10:10:25.517-05:00

The way I see it, it's clear that our "festival of lights" and Hanukkah miracle are actually kindred to the totally non-christian (actually pagan) "Christmas" lights and decorations at this darkest time of year. The fact is that we Jews and the larger culture are lighting candles in December is obviously related to the winter solstice and something that surely predates Judas Maccabee.

There's no December Dilemma: "Honey it's cold (and dark) outside" - for everybody! Now, one nice menorah in the window, or one Christmas tree in the living room (for our neighbors), is an earth-friendly alternative to the extravaganza seen in certain neighborhoods and in the image of the Jewish home in this blog.

Wonderful post, and I wish I had seen it when my c...

2011-12-26T01:28:42.123-05:00

Wonderful post, and I wish I had seen it when my children were young. We had an intermarried, blended family. The dual celebration served to somehow direct 3 (of 4) of my Jewish children to celebrate Christmas only (not that they embrace the tenets of Christianity). I feel that our mixed celebration made it seem as if everything was okay, equal.

I polled the three Jews in our non-intermarried ho...

2011-12-24T21:23:38.369-05:00

I polled the three Jews in our non-intermarried household. All agreed that the bayit pictured did not give us a sense of shalom. It is merely competing with the garish commercial displays that have infected and adulterated Christmas. Neighbors outdo each other to see how grand their own son et lumiere can be. Put a hanukkiah on the front lawn, yes, but dreidels and menorah posters hanging from the rafters? C'mon. What's next, a huge balloon of Elijah's cup on the front lawn during Pesah?

Wonderful post, Rabbi Jason! In my humble opinion,...

2011-12-23T09:57:48.874-05:00

Wonderful post, Rabbi Jason! In my humble opinion, much of our December dilemma can be resolved with careful attention to the other 11 months out of the year. Observe and teach about such holidays as Sukkot, Purim, Rosh Hashana, and Yom Kippur. Having this breath of knowledge throughout the year has helped my kids ( who are ages 4 and 2) know that their identity is bigger than just Hannukah vs. Christmas.