Happy Chanukah

Happy holidays from 1938 Media.
mp4

1. Christmas is one day, same day every year, December 25. Jews also love December 25th. It’s another paid day off work. We go to the movies and out for Chinese food and Israeli dancing. Chanukah is 8 days. It starts the evening of the 24th of Kislev, whenever that falls. No one is ever sure. Jews never know until a non-Jewish friend asks when Chanukah starts forcing us to consult a calendar so we don’t look like idiots. We all have the same calendar, provided free with a donation from the World Jewish Congress, the kosher butcher or the local Sinai Memorial Chapel (especially in Florida) or other Jewish funeral home.

2. Christmas is a major holiday. Chanukah is a minor holiday with the same theme as most Jewish holidays. They tried to kill us, we survived, let’s eat.

3. Christians get wonderful presents such as jewelry, perfume, stereos, etc. Jews get practical presents such as underwear, socks or the collected works of the Rambam, which looks impressive on the bookshelf.

4. There is only one way to spell Christmas. No one can decide how to spell Chanukah, Chanukkah, Chanukka, Channukah, Hanukah, Hannukah, etc.

5. Christmas is a time of great pressure for husbands and boyfriends. Their partners expect special gifts. Jewish men are relieved of that burden. No one expects a diamond ring on Hanukah.

6. Christmas brings enormous electric bills. Candles are used for Chanukah. Not only are we spared enormous electric bills, but we get to feel good about not contributing to the energy crisis.

7. Christmas carols are beautiful…Silent Night, Come All Ye Faithful. Chanukah songs are about dreidels made from clay or having a party and dancing the hora. Of course, we are secretly pleased that many of the beautiful carols were composed and written by our tribal brethren. And don’t Barbara Streisand and Neil Diamond sing them beautifully?

8. A home preparing for Christmas smells wonderful like the sweet smell of cookies and cakes baking. Happy people are gathered around in festive moods. A home preparing for Chanukah smells of oil, potatoes and onions. The home, as always, is full of people all talking at once.

9. Christian women have fun baking Christmas cookies. Jewish women burn their eyes and cut their hands grating potatoes and onions for latkes on Chanukah. Another reminder of our suffering through the ages.

10 . Parents deliver presents to their children during Christmas. Jewish parents have no qualms about withholding a gift on any of the eight nights.

11. The players in the Christmas story have easy to pronounce names such as Mary, Joseph and Jesus. The players in the Chanukah story are Antiochus, Judah Maccabee and Matta whatever. No one can spell it or pronounce it. On the plus side, we can tell our friends anything and they believe we are wonderfully versed in our history.

12. Many Christians believe in the virgin birth. Jews think, “Snap out of it. Your woman is pregnant, you didn’t sleep with her and now you want to blame G-d? Here’s the phone number of my shrink”.

13. In recent years, Christmas has become more and more commercialized. The same holds true for Chanukah, even though it is a minor holiday. It makes sense. How could we market a major holiday such as Yom Kippur? Forget about celebrating. Think observing. Come to synagogue, starve yourself for 27 hours, become one with your dehydrated soul, beat your chest, confess your sins, a guaranteed good time for you and your family. Tickets a mere $200 per person. Better stick with Chanukah!

Posted in Holidays
16 comments

What are people saying?

  1. Jecklin said on December 15th, 2006 at 6:13 pm

    That was great! Happy Chanukah!

    Reply
  2. Loren said on December 15th, 2006 at 6:32 pm

    Thanks Jeck

    Reply
  3. Mark said on December 15th, 2006 at 10:26 pm

    I’ll echo Jecklin by saying that was quite an enjoyable read.

    From a Christian man to a Jewish man —

    Happy Hanukkah.

    Reply
  4. Loren said on December 15th, 2006 at 11:15 pm

    Mark,

    Thanks a lot. Have a super holidays also.

    Good will and peace to everyone, nice time of year huh?

    Reply
  5. Allen said on December 16th, 2006 at 12:06 am

    Loren - I would love to have a chat with you sometime - btw, Ave R and Flatbush in Brooklyn is where this jew was each xmas eating at China New Star after watching a movie — growing up so I feel ya!

    Reply
  6. Loren said on December 16th, 2006 at 1:04 am

    Just contact me Allen all my info is on the contact page.

    Reply
  7. Robert Bruce said on December 16th, 2006 at 3:46 am

    Happy Chanuka baby.

    And to Uncle Edward as well…

    Reply
  8. Robert Bruce said on December 16th, 2006 at 3:47 am

    Chanukah, I mean…

    Reply
  9. jvon said on December 16th, 2006 at 4:15 am

    Good stuff, but you spelled Hanukkah wrong.

    Reply
  10. Erik Schwartz said on December 16th, 2006 at 9:35 am

    The cuisanart has been disruptive to latke making.

    Reply
  11. Loren said on December 16th, 2006 at 1:01 pm

    Bruce,

    Uncle Edward says Hi. Call me when you can bro.

    Reply
  12. daniel said on December 16th, 2006 at 1:13 pm

    Happy Chanuka! Enjoy, Loren

    Reply
  13. Loren Feldman said on December 16th, 2006 at 2:48 pm

    Jvon

    I so did not spell it wrong.

    Reply
  14. Loren Feldman said on December 16th, 2006 at 2:49 pm

    Danny Boy,

    Thanks for the wishes man. I need to hang with you and those kooky chicks of yours.

    Reply
  15. Deb said on December 21st, 2006 at 12:43 pm

    This was a great read…Happy Chanakah?? darn spelling, at least with Christmas, we just teach our kids to shorten it to Xmas! LOL

    Have a great year, Deb

    Reply
  16. Loren Feldman said on December 21st, 2006 at 12:48 pm

    Thanks Deb all the best to you and your family. Merry Christmas

    Reply

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