Merry Christmas from the Jews

Merry Christmas, dear Reader.

You don't have to reciprocate, of course, but you could say Thanks.

Like, "Thanks for the Jewish guy we're celebrating."

Or, "Thanks for sharing with us the idea of a redeeming Messiah in the first place."

But if you're a more secularized gentile, "Thanks for White Christmas and the greatest hits of Irving Berlin," will also do.

If you work in an industry that would normally require your presence today or tomorrow, you could say "Thanks" for the Jewish guy or girl willing to pick up your shift, too.

This holiday season tends to bring out both the best and the worst in humanity.  We turn yuletide spirit into a competition to see whose lawn can be the brightest, whose gifts can be the fanciest, and whose wishes can be the most Christmas-y, i.e. the "It's Christmas, goddamnit, not Happy Holidays!" meme, as if for everyone, Christmas is the theme.

For us Jews, it's a holiday -- that's true. 

But for most of us, the holiday is about you.

So while you're spreading Yuletide Cheer, telling all that Christmas is here, take a moment to thank a Jew.

2,000 years later, we're still making Christmas wishes come true.

JFNA GA 2012

Check out the November issue of the Jewish Journal of Ocean County to read my take on the Jewish Federations of North America's General Assembly held November 11-13 in Baltimore, MD.