Rant #1,795: Rockin' Around the Menorah Lights

OK, it is that time of the year.

I knew it was “that time of the year” via a Facebook discussion that was turned into a heated argument by someone else related to a “memory” that Facebook put up for me that had to do with happenings five years ago, when I had a letter printed in our local Newsday newspaper related to anti-Semitism.

Without getting into the lurid details of what happened when the letter was printed in Newsday, this “memory” was posted, and someone decided to argue with me about Jewish artists recording Christmas songs and doing nothing about Hanukkah, their own end of the calendar year holiday.

Last week, another Facebook "friend" had the audacity to bring me up to date about how Hitler actually helped Germany, the atrocities he committed aside.

I kid you not.

So, with these people able to justify everything that they say--and make themselves into bigger asses with each justification--I felt it was time for my annual message to Jews and non-Jews alike, in particular to those who know myself and my family very well.

As many of you know if you regularly read this column, this is “that time of year” when I have to remind people who know me—real friends and relatives and Facebook “friends”—that I am Jewish, and thus, I do not want my family receiving any Christmas cards or “Season’s Greetings” cards.

I simply find it insulting that if you know I am Jewish, you cannot expend maybe less than an iota of extra energy to move down the card aisle to the Hanukkah section, pick an appropriate card, and send if off, much like you would a Christmas or “Season’s Greetings” card.

Look, for business purposes, a Christmas card is fine. If I get one from my doctor, the mail deliverer, or the postman, that is fine. I have no problem with it. It is simply a holiday greeting, for those people I might do business with, but they really don't know me at all on a personal level.

But when such cards come from a relative—many of whom are Jewish themselves—or from a close friend who knows what my religion is, well, then I have an issue.

I would never, ever send a Hanukkah card to anyone who was not Jewish. I would find doing that highly insulting.

Well then, one who sends a Christmas card to my family and I, yes, if you know our background, I would find that equally insulting.

I am Jewish. My wife is Jewish. My son and daughter are Jewish. If you know this, and still cannot understand why sending us a Christmas or “Season’s Greetings” card is insulting, then I really feel sorry for you.

Christmas is a wonderful holiday, full of lights, merriment and good tidings for all.

However, it is not my holiday. It is simply a day off for me, and to quiet some of you down, yes, I have worked on Christmas day at a variety of places I have been employed at during my career.

It has very little meaning to me beyond the day off, and that is not to knock the holiday at all, but again, I am Jewish, so what importance would Christmas have for me other than a day off of work?

This year is a unique year indeed. The first night of Hanukkah—which in recent years has fallen out on Thanksgiving and into early December—actually falls out on Christmas Eve this year, on the evening of December 24.

This intertwines the two holidays even more than they normally are, but again, Hanukkah has nothing to do with Christmas, and Christmas has nothing to do with Hanukkah, other than being end of the calendar year celebrations.

And let’s keep it that way.

Yes, the target is now on my back, and I know some people won’t be too happy with what I said, but I guess that is their problem, isn’t it?