I'm just looking for Jewish families with experience in raising children, particularly around the holiday season. For those who celebrate Christmas, Sants seems to fit right in, because Christmas is one big hooplah day, and Santa only delivers the prezzies once, and it all seems to work and make sense to the kids. Does Santa fit in with Jewish celebrations?
Please no one take offense...I'm just trying to ask a plain question out of curiosity...some people will take offense as soon as the topic of religion is even touched upon.
Okay...
Thank you!
2006-10-25 14:59:26 · 13 answers · asked by patsy36ss 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Hanukkah
In a non-religious home, yes, i think santa is welcome. But in the more religious homes the kids dont even know who santa is until they grow up and learn about him someplace else. The reason why santa wouldnt quite fit in to a religious home is because xmas isn't celebrated by the Jewish people and santa is a part of xmas, hence the fact that if they braught him into their home, it would be similar to celebrating the holiday.
Hey, no offence taken;) I hope i answered your question!
2006-10-26 04:56:55 · answer #1 · answered by Motti _Shish 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my step kids are jewish because of their mother wants them to be. But over here we do christian holidays. The kids end up learning both sets of holidays and think its great that they get the jewish week or more of presents every day and then a great big christmas too. But in true all jewish families there is not supposed to be a santa.
2006-10-25 15:11:00 · answer #2 · answered by sarat0 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most Jewish families do not have Santa bring gifts. when I was a kid, that made me sad because I felt left out. I don't practice anymore but share some old traditions with my kids and some new ones. One of the new ones came from SNL when Jewish families were visited by Hanukkah Harry. At my house, he rings the bell and leaves a Hanukkah present.
From Wikipedia:Hanukkah Harry is portrayed as a man in an old-time traditional vest (coat removed) and fur hat with a grey beard. During the eight days of Hanukkah, he rides in a wagon (similar to that of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof), pulled by three donkeys. Much like Santa, he delivers presents to children during the eight days of Hanukkah. However, instead of residing at the North Pole, Hanukkah Harry and his workers (who are elderly Jewish retirees who are being paid "under the table" so as to avoid losing their social security benefits) reside in Miami and wear blue clothing otherwise reminsicent of Santa and his elves. He traditionally says, "oy, presents" when entering homes.
2006-10-27 04:02:41 · answer #3 · answered by KathyS 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I understand where you're coming from, but I think raising your kids with Chanukkah AND Santa may be sending out a message that Chanukkah isn't good enough, and that Christmas is what the kids should "conform to".
I think it would be wise help your kids understand that being Jewish IS wonderful, and they should be comfortable with it. They can understand that both religions are great, and they can be happy being unique.
Just make Chanukkah accessible in some way without Santa- you can do it.
Get the kids to paint their own menorahs (there are arts and crafts kits like that), or sing some Chanukkah songs with them, or make some latkes together (YUM).
The kids will be proud to be Jewish, and you won't even NEED Santa :)
Email me if you'd like :)
2006-10-26 16:09:48 · answer #4 · answered by sarahg 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I grew up with santa and the stocking and got gifts on christmas day. We did not celebrate Jesus, but I never had a problem and I am failry devout. I think the message of Santa, nice guy who brings gifts to boys and girls who are good, is fine. WHy not get a gifrt for being good all year. The best part of santa is all the rudolph and fred astaire stuff on TV. My kids love that. Heck the heat miser is a favoriet of my house. I think the message of Santa is fine and allows kids to be part of America wihtout being christian.
2006-10-25 15:54:34 · answer #5 · answered by Cy Gold 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, Santa is for Christmas and has nothing to do with the Jewish Religion
2006-10-29 05:45:52 · answer #6 · answered by o.O 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i don't wish to seem offensive but celebrating chanukah while including santa is a perversion of a jewish holiday... its like saying that instead of celebrating jesus on christmas, christians should should celebrate mohammed.
like the girl above said, its like saying that chanukah itself is not good enough, and that jews should conform to christian holidays. its no wonder the jewish identity is threatened these days.
there are all kinds of ways jews celebrate chanukah without needing to import santa. menorahs themselves - picking them, decorating them, lighting them - is very fun AND spiritual. there are all kinds of chanukah plays and chanukah songs available. storytelling, playing with dreidels, baking, and being with family. and lots of jewish families give gifts to each other each of the 8 days of chanukah - no santa necessary, everybody knows that all the gifts come from the family and from the heart, and THAT is way better than santa.
2006-10-28 12:20:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Santa is a fantasy - this guy is a wannabe fantasy. that would desire to addle anybody's psyche. no longer that i think in a historic Jesus - it wasn't the Jews that killed him, it replaced into the proto-Roman Catholics. merely as they and the different Christians might do returned if he have been to "come back" and observed what a twisted perversion they have created from his coaching.
2016-12-28 05:09:40 · answer #8 · answered by levatt 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chanukah is not about getting presents it is about how the Mackabim fought back against the syrian-greeks and won back israel. they lit the huge menorah in the beis hamikdash and the menorah lasted for 8 days, thus we celebrate chanukah. from any where in the reason we celebrate chanukah do you see any mentioin of santa or presents?
2006-10-28 17:54:30 · answer #9 · answered by red sox! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How does Steven Spielberg celebrate Christmas with his kids?
2006-10-28 10:21:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋