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th1smustbetheplace t1_j0d92db wrote

Reply to comment by DfcukinLite in Meet the Guy Behind 34th Street’s First-Ever Hanukkah House by aresef

Hanukkah's a pretty minor Jewish holiday; it's not the Jewish equivalent of Christmas. Its profile has risen over the years because it gives Jewish parents an easy way to make sure their kids don't feel left out of all of the festivities and gift-giving in the Christian mainstream in December, but beyond that, it's not a big deal.

Additionally, many Jews feel that this kind of decorating is inherently assimilationist. Obviously there's a range of opinions out there, and a lot of Jewish folks get a lot of joy out of going all out like the house on 34th Street does. But I think it's fair to say that decorating for Hanukkah isn't a tradition the way it is for Christians to decorate for Christmas.

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DfcukinLite t1_j0dbykm wrote

Ok. I get that that Hanukkah isn’t the Christmas equivalent in true Jew faith, but for the sake of this articles topic it is, and clearly there a missing market/need for it. So, I’ll expand that and ask why isn’t there any festive things or decorations for any Jew(ish) holidays like Rosh Hashanah, etc?

Also, aren’t we late stage jew assimilation per US history? This is a judo-Christian society

I get that Judaism is a minority religious group and there’s only so many pockets of enclaves across the US.. but say in Baltimore/MD(Pikesville, OM,etc) for example; I would think there would be. I mean, we get these federal holidays off here. I’ve met many’s Jews moving to Baltimore Co, going the college here, living and working than I did in Harford county were there wasn’t any in my schools.

There just clearly a missing market/interest seems odd to me that I hasn’t been tapped into hardly at this point in society. I personally would be interested in the cultural festivities is all. Now I have friends that I have, but I think exposure is important.

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th1smustbetheplace t1_j0dfveu wrote

I actually don't think there's an untapped market that's interested in buying big decorations for major Jewish holidays like Rosh Hashanah and Passover. If there was, it would have been tapped by now! One of the best parts of those holidays, IMO, is that they're not commercial like Christian holidays; you don't have to buy anything other than food, and the festivities are generally family gatherings and (if you're religious or more observant) going to temple.

I think people like the Hanukkah house on 34th Street because as a Jewish person, it can be nice to feel acknowledged at a time when it feels like the entire world is wrapped up in a holiday you don't celebrate. But I don't think liking this guy's decorations means that most Jewish people want to decorate this way, or want their holidays to have 5 dedicated aisles of merchandise at Target every year.

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DfcukinLite t1_j0dhjqr wrote

Ok, I’m confused. You say there’s no market or interest. But then you admit that as a Jewish person it’s nice to feel acknowledged in a society dominated in a different holiday you don’t celebrate? What’s the disconnect here?

Nevermind the over commercialization of Xmas and other “Christian” holidays because it’s the majorities default religious background here it makes sense bc capitalism...

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ccwb713 t1_j0er2ud wrote

As mentioned above, it’s nice not feeling forgotten when American society and pop culture are wrapped up in the Christmas mishegas - especially with the spike in antisemitism. But personally, in no way, shape, or form would I go out and buy massive Hanukkah decorations - especially since Hanukkah is one of the least important holidays on the calendar

Moral of the story, there’s no connection between being/feeling acknowledged and there being a market for Hanukkah decorations (that undoubtedly would be designed by goys and get something incorrect).

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DfcukinLite t1_j0estuv wrote

Right, so it’s not your personal thing to get Hanukkah decorations/decorate- It’s not mine to decorate for Xmas or any other holiday for that matter either like a lot of other people in society.

But it’s some people’s thing, evidently, as this guy decorated his house with obviously mass-produced commercialized Hanukkah decorations.. that I’m sure he’s not the first jew in the world to decorate their property with decorations just like people do with Xmas… so clearly there’s a market.. and then they wrote this whole article about how it’s awesome they include a Hanukkah house for the first time.

I’m advocating for more festive jewish holiday celebrations/decorations for inclusion/exposure specifically for this time of the year and you all can’t get past your own bias and feels. I don’t get it. But you can all continue to be weird about it. Mazel

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