As a Jewish Baltimorean (or Baltimorean Jew - depends on the day), I LOVE this house. Growing up, my grandparents (z”l) would go out of their way year to take my siblings and I to 34th Street and see the lights in the area, but as incredible as the Christmas lights always were, stopping at the Hanukkah House on Park Heights on the way home was always the most satisfying part because I felt included and seen.

Shout out to Mr. Lamont for providing others with that feeling - especially when our community needs it - and decorating one amazing house!

this is cool. I'm happy to see this street provide joy for so many. Sad that some jerks have caused destruction though.

Yeah this is pretty heart warming stuff. Hanukkah Sameach bruv.

I’m a little Azkenashi (ethnically) but was raised as a Protestant and this was my favorite house.

I'm mostly Ashkenazi--a good chunk of that was a surprise to us a few years back--but not religiously anything and I love a Hanukkah house.

Same! It was a surprise to our family after my sister recently did 23 & Me.

It kinda made sense though, because all my friends growing up were Jewish, some of the most influential and important people in my life are Jews, and I’ve always felt a kindred connection to the religion and its values.

Way way back, a cousin worked for AP and did a story on the primitive version of all that stuff. He tested himself, his father and our grandfather.

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna13756086

Years later, when 23andMe became a thing, that cousin's brother hit the books and found documentation on our great-grandfather. He determined that his last name was not the one he was born with. It wasn't an Ellis Island situation. The change was first documented when he fraudulently claimed birthright citizenship. He had a history of dubious claims. He claimed to be employed as a seaman when he was 6. He claimed to be from Liverpool. He was actually born in Switzerland with family in France and Germany and met his wife in Liverpool a year after he gained American citizenship. They moved to New York and had kids etc etc.

We tracked down one of our distant relatives and she helped us fill the hole in the family tree. Whatever the means, I sure am glad he got out of there. We learned in the process that a number of distant relatives were killed in the Holocaust.

Similarly, I'm glad my grandfather was 4F during the war, or else I may never have been born.

Ya know. I’ve often wondered why with Maryland, especially Baltimore having such a large Jew(ish) population - why there isn’t more holiday decorations/festive things like this in places like Pikesville, Reisterstown, Owings Mills, Potomac, etc for Hanukkah?

Because no one but Christians feel the need to loudly force their holidays on everyone else.

If that’s true then this wouldn’t be a big enough deal to write this article about it.

This is making me choke up, what a mensch.

A little surprised it’s 2022 and this is the first year a Hanukkah house is on 34th st

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.

Because the holiday season is already insufferable enough as it is without us making a fuss about a minor holiday that's been overblown because of Xmas. While you people are really enjoying the festive birth of your savior while we're celebrating a bargain for 8 fucking days. Not to mention the history of Hanukkah is kinda celebrating religious fundamentalism.

Sorry to be a downer. Happy holidays I guess.

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.

well, no; this guy moved in in 2017 and that's when he started doing it.

But Christmas is hardly religious anymore. It’s just a reason to spend money to send into the economy and be merry. Yeah, some people go to church, etc but that’s probably the only time of the year, beside maybe Easter and people hardly go for those anymore these days

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.

Ok. 2017.

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...

Except that's DEFINITELY not my perception. I don't care if your Xmas involves "child son of God but also not" or "magic home invasion mailman in red"... it's not my holiday and you can't go anywhere without incessant holiday music playing... and it's always the same goddamn songs over and over.

It's always the goyim who tell me to "be merry" as if the Christmas Hegemony doesn't exist. Kinda like how Evangelicals complain how oppressed they are when they're a quarter of the entire population.

Let people be and stop shoving your holidays down the throats of people who don't want it.

Correction: Two Adam Sandler songs.

You apparently have feels about Xmas or something. But can confidently say it’s not really that religious because it’s based of a pagan holiday. But that’s awhile another topic of conversation, much like how you just hijacked and derailed my innocent wholesome thread. You could use some Xmas cheer.

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You’re the only person arguing in your feelings. I asked simple questions. You went on some anti Xmas/Christian rant. Weird

I tell you what my perception of the season is and you shit all over it. You're an asshole.

No, I disagreed and stated my opinion as a someone that “celebrates” and than you proceed to anti Xmas/Christian rant and gaslight. On brand for you tho.

I think you should double check your history. While its true that Christmas is intertwined with the winter solstice, and, certain traditions that became Christmas traditions were taken from Pagan celebrations (among others) to say it is 'based on' a pagan holiday is egregiously incorrect.

I would recommend the entire wiki article, but the bit about concurrent celebrations is particularly relevant: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Relation_to_concurrent_celebrations

Christmas is, quite explicitly, a celebration of the birth of Christianity's most important religious figure and not 'based on' the winter solstice just because a few traditions were stolen or incorporated to ease assimilation.

Below I’ve listed a little light reading for you to educate yourself on the origins of Christmas and it’s hijack of pagan winter solace traditions. Im not incorrect.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christmas

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/wbna50284202

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/the-unexpected-pagan-origins-of-popular-christmas-traditions/

You are completely incorrect in saying that Christmas is based on pagan holidays. As I noted, I'm not denying that traditions of winter solstice (among others) were stolen or incorporated, but to say that Christmas itself is based on it is a pretty shallow and ignorant interpretation.

I find it funny that you can't even manage to read my comment or spell solstice right but you still think you know what you're talking about because you posted a couple nbc news articles. This honestly has to be a troll account.

Also, did you read your sources? They support my position better than your own, lol.

Totally agree man, this dude is a joker with no clue what he is talking about. Honestly hope its a troll account.

You can stick you head in the sand and sing “La La La” but it is. Evidently. Per full blown credible sources.

“Christmas, Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus. The English term Christmas (“mass on Christ’s day”) is of fairly recent origin. The earlier term Yule may have derived from the Germanic jōl or the Anglo-Saxon geōl, which referred to the feast of the winter solstice. The corresponding terms in other languages—Navidad in Spanish, Natale in Italian, Noël in French—all probably denote nativity. The German word Weihnachten denotes “hallowed night.” Since the early 20th century, Christmas has also been a secular family holiday, observed by Christians and non-Christians alike, devoid of Christian elements, and marked by an increasingly elaborate exchange of gifts. In this secular Christmas celebration, a mythical figure named Santa Claus plays the pivotal role. Christmas is celebrated on Sunday, December 25, 2022.”

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christmas

“The early Christian community distinguished between the identification of the date of Jesus’ birth and the liturgical celebration of that event. The actual observance of the day of Jesus’ birth was long in coming. In particular, during the first two centuries of Christianity there was strong opposition to recognizing birthdays of martyrs or, for that matter, of Jesus. Numerous Church Fathers offered sarcastic comments about the pagan custom of celebrating birthdays when, in fact, saints and martyrs should be honoured on the days of their martyrdom—their true “birthdays,” from the church’s perspective.”

The precise origin of assigning December 25 as the birth date of Jesus is unclear. The New Testament provides no clues in this regard. December 25 was first identified as the date of Jesus’ birth by Sextus Julius Africanus in 221 and later became the universally accepted date. One widespread explanation of the origin of this date is that December 25 was the Christianizing of the dies solis invicti nati (“day of the birth of the unconquered sun”), a popular holiday in the Roman Empire that celebrated the winter solstice as a symbol of the resurgence of the sun, the casting away of winter and the heralding of the rebirth of spring and summer. Indeed, after December 25 had become widely accepted as the date of Jesus’ birth, Christian writers frequently made the connection between the rebirth of the sun and the birth of the Son. One of the difficulties with this view is that it suggests a nonchalant willingness on the part of the Christian church to appropriate a pagan festival when the early church was so intent on distinguishing itself categorically from pagan beliefs and practices.

From your own sources:

"Though December 25 is the day Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the date itself and several of the customs we've come to associate with Christmas actually evolved from pagan traditions celebrating the winter solstice."

"It's a mistake to say that our modern Christmas traditions come directly from pre-Christian paganism, said Ronald Hutton, a historian at Bristol University in the United Kingdom. However, he said, you'd be equally wrong to believe that Christmas is a modern phenomenon."

"Christmas, Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus."

--

Like I said, certain traditions were stolen and incorporated. No one is denying that. However, Christians celebrated the birth of Christ well before those pagan traditions were incorporated into the celebrations. This is all well detailed in the wiki article I linked, chock full of academic sources. It is also fully acknowledged in all of the sources you provided, which, to be honest, I'm not sure you've actually read beyond the headline.

I am sorry that you are incapable of admitting that you are wrong, or of understanding nuance, and that you care more about your own pride than the historical accuracy of your statements, but to each their own. I'm gonna move on because like most people in these threads, I'm done reading your ignorant contrarian takes.

This is referring to the selection of the date and has nothing to do with the basis of the holiday. Nice try though.

In what way does the origin of the name support your point? The celebration existed long before the modern name but was always to do with celebration of the birth of Christ. Good try again.

grasping at straws..

The precise origin of assigning December 25 as the birth date of Jesus is unclear. The New Testament provides no clues in this regard. December 25 was first identified as the date of Jesus’ birth by Sextus Julius Africanus in 221 and later became the universally accepted date. One widespread explanation of the origin of this date is that December 25 was the Christianizing of the dies solis invicti nati (“day of the birth of the unconquered sun”), a popular holiday in the Roman Empire that celebrated the winter solstice as a symbol of the resurgence of the sun, the casting away of winter and the heralding of the rebirth of spring and summer. Indeed, after December 25 had become widely accepted as the date of Jesus’ birth, Christian writers frequently made the connection between the rebirth of the sun and the birth of the Son. One of the difficulties with this view is that it suggests a nonchalant willingness on the part of the Christian church to appropriate a pagan festival when the early church was so intent on distinguishing itself categorically from pagan beliefs and practices.

Again, the selection of the name and date have little to do with what the holiday is celebrating and whether it is religious. I'm afraid you've gone and got a little lost in the sauce on this one.

Try speaking in complete sentences before trying to argue with someone who knows more than you.

Lmao

You're repeating yourself, and you're still wrong.

You don’t know anything 😂😂😂

And you’re mad I’m right

Must be nice to be delusional

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Better than mindlessly parroting the same paragraph that doesn't even support your point over and over like an automaton. Have a nice night.

Sure will. Because facts matter.

I gotta be honest... I lived in Charles Village in the 1990s and I would not have flaunted my Judaism in Hampden.

Was Anti-Semitism really that prevalent back then?

I'd buy the 50's. Maybe the 60's. But the 90's?

It's pretty prevalent currently.

In my defense the full quote was "All we get is one Adam Sandler song, well I guess he is up to four now"

Is he? I'll have to check Spotify tomorrow.

I wonder if I can find a nice Jewish boy there.

I am pretty sure.

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).

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

what I feel like I’m doing right now

man i don’t even feel safe being Jewish in the 2020’s. i’d totally buy the 90’s not being that great for us either.

Based on what? I'm Jewish and used to live in Remington with a menorah in the window during Hanukkah and a Mezuzah on my door. Never once encountered any Anti-Semitism there or in Hampden.

Then again, it wasn't until 2017 that I thought I had to deal with actual Nazis in any meaningful way. But most of that wasn't in Baltimore.

As I mentioned in another thread, I never thought I'd have to deal with Nazis again in the modern world but none of that was in Baltimore.

Tell me about it. I’d mention something about gaslight.. but it seems your sensibilities have been offended.

That is awesome man! And I genuinely mean that, I am glad you never had any negative experiences. A lot of my friends have never had any bad interactions, and a lot of them have.

I have lived in the city since 96 and Hampden specifically since 2017 and have experienced quite a bit. Generally from folks who are old Hampden or old Dundalk. Anywhere from snide comments to swastikas painted on my house. Granted I have a slight bit more than a Menorah in the window.

Ouch. That sucks.

If you need an angry Jew with a baseball bat, call the Bear Jew.

But also me.

I appreciate the offer! And one day I might do just that.

Currently we have a bat and a compound by the front door, but that's the kind of stuff that doesn't make the article.

I am so incredibly glad! Comments like this make it all worth it!

Chanukah Sameach!

Its okay! Nothing a power washer and a surplus of replacement decorations can't fix.