A menorah is not offensive to me, I think they are rather cool looking, and the little candles they make for them are artful.
By the way, if you are Jewish, would you be offended if a close Christian aquaintence/client gave you a menorah as a gift? Would you think they were over stepping their boundaries?
What would you think if they had a menorah in their house? (Of course they know what it stands for and what it means)
2007-07-05 09:52:45 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Teacher, I appreciate your answer. thank you for being here today.
2007-07-05 10:03:15 · update #1
I'm certainly not offended by a Christmas tree or any other religious decoration. The thing about Christmas that "offends" me is that Christians think that *everyone* is Christian and that *everyone* looks forward to the "season."
Perhaps "offended" isn't the right word. Incredulous might be a better word, in that there are so few Christians that are really interested in whether others (including their friends) are Christian. What an uproar we'd have if for the entire month of Ramadan every store clerk greeted you with "Praise Allah!" Perhaps you were an office secretary and your boss insisted that you send Ramadan greeting cards to all his associates even though he knew you were Christian.
That's exactly what happens to non-Christians. It is extremely aggravating!!!
I would be thrilled if a Christian gave me a menorah or had a menorah in his house. I would be thrilled that he even knew the purpose of a menorah! But I am frequently disappointed by my Christian friends when they insist on sending Christian greetings knowing full well I am not Christian. They don't even realize that they're doing it. Incredible! Christmas greetings have become as inane as "Have a nice day!"
2007-07-05 14:51:27 · answer #1 · answered by Hatikvah 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As a Jew the Christmas tree does not bother me at all. I do not have an urge to buy one nor did I ever want to buy it. If someone gave me a menorah as a present I would take it and say thank you. If they had one in their house I would not care. This is a democratic country they can have anything they want to.
2007-07-05 16:56:24 · answer #2 · answered by Teacher 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, but I'd rather see a nativity scene.
Menorahs are religious symbols. Christmas trees are not -- they are secular symbols.
So, if menorahs are displayed publicly and no one cares, then they should also be okay with a nativity scene. If a Jewish religious symbol is okay, why shouldn't a Christian one be?
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2007-07-05 16:55:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Not at all. But then, I'm pagan so a Yule tree is natural.
The problem comes in when people start trying to say that THEIR religious symbols are okay, but NO ONE ELSE'S symbols are.
Either they're all welcome, or none of them are welcome. Simple. That means that if I want to put up a holly-twined pentacle to celebrate the return of the Sun, Christians shouldn't be able to say "No, because this time of year is all about Jesus."
2007-07-05 17:02:11 · answer #4 · answered by Nandina (Bunny Slipper Goddess) 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Anyone who is offended by holidays of religions other than their own is ignorant. Religion is not about whose beliefs are right...it's about accepting EVERYONE regardless of their religion.
If someone who isn't Jewish wants to keep a Menorah during the holidays, no one should be allowed to tell them not to.
2007-07-05 16:55:46 · answer #5 · answered by victoria 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
It's not offensive to me..I use them all the time...I think t\it's not offensive to anyone...I believe there is a small group of people who are just angry at religion and wants it in the closet and use the offensive thing as an excuse.
2007-07-05 16:57:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
messinic jew...
jew who believes in jesus
both minorah and a xmass tree are offensive in a minor way
my wife and daughter both celibrate x mass
which is a revived pagan holiday to horus that dates to at least 1000 bc
jesus was a jew who celibrated the festival of lights even though there is no mention of it in the law TaNaKh.
it diddent concern him i use it as an example of me not to be so dogmatic
in the end dogmatism causes more trouble than it solves. and it causes offence when none is needed
all these holidays are far removed from thier pagan and mosaic roots. we celibrate these things to remember god and have no notion of the origins
All of this is used by religon to seperate us from other humans in a dogmatic mindset.
keeping jews and muslims and chrisitians from being at least friends
as a messanic jew i get alot of this ostrication. it never benifits anyone
if a tree or a christmas bulb is given hang it on your minorah,,,,, and hang a star of david on your x mass tree
2007-07-05 17:09:18 · answer #7 · answered by badboybilzer 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why would the Yule tree be offensive? It is after all a Pagan tradition. ;)
2007-07-05 17:55:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yule does need a traditional Yule tree!
2007-07-05 16:55:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Calling them 'winter' holidays is more offensive. I'm an atheist but the Christmas celebration is ancient. Why rename it?
2007-07-05 16:57:11 · answer #10 · answered by Huxton_Billbob 1 · 4⤊ 1⤋