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[SandyBoy]

Hey, Alexander I like that front page with the Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah, but .... THAT Santa Claus on that Snowshoe White T-Bird looks much too thin! Maybe "Mrs. Julie Claus" can fatten the old boy up a wee bit!?!?!? I hope none of toys for the Goils and Boils scratch up the plaid vinyl trunk liner in there

Hope the season is the greatest yet.
Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and a Joyious New Year to ALL !!

[Alexander]

RE: Front Page

Santa Claus is working out this year.

Sandy, I wanted to use the Xanuka spelling of Hannukah, but instead chose one of the more common of the 19 different spellings.

Alexander
1959 Hardtop
1960 Golde Top

[SandyBoy]

RE: Front Page

WHAT? I only know of 9 different spellings. How'd ya get 19 ? TYPO ?

[Alexander]

RE: Front Page

Okay, maybe I am exagerating. There are a lot of spellings.

http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.12.19/arts5.philologos.html

http://members.tripod.com/~jewishjokes/xappy-xanuka.htm

Happy Tshanukah!

Alexander
1959 Hardtop
1960 Golde Top

[SandyBoy]

RE: Front Page

Seriously speaking now, Hanukah in our culture, has been blown way the heck out of proportion. It's actually a fairly insignifigant holy-day on the Hebrew calander. Sort of the same "importance" and cause for celebration and time off of work that June 14th (Flag Day) would bring to mind! The reason for this is two-fold.
1.) It's the sole "holiday" on the Jewish calendar that is a happy & festive one.
2.) It's very difficult raising a young child, ages 5 to 10 in a Christian Country and NOT celebrating Christmas! The neighbors kids all get showered with toys and parties & celebration and the Jewish kid is omitted! How do you explain this to a 7 year old? You can't! So, Chanukah is the "vehicle" to apease the Jewish kid, until he/she is older, and has to suffer thru Hebrew School (ages 7-13) to get the real answer. Therefore.....Hanukkah is the vehicle to parental peace!!!
My late Mom had a really funny expression for the explanation of ALL the other Jewish Holy Days! It went like this:
"They tried to kill us. We Won! Lets Eat"
This is especially funny, as "we" love to eat!! (and) Thru the years so many have tried to kill us. Look over in Iraq now, same thing. We will win again, as before...Lets Eat.
Another funny one is:-
"How do you save money at a Jewish wedding?"
Answer: Have a very long Open Bar, and serve the food courses very quickly with no breaks in between ~

Jews are usually all done at the Open bar in 15 minutes!!! After 20 minutes the bartender can doze off. By serving the courses fast together, nobody can ask for 2nds.....

So (3rd spelling now) Hanukka) starts tomorrow night at sundown 5:30PM East Coast. Our Son is grown up at 21 now, and toys are mostly electronic stuff from Asian countries which I know nothing about, so I just give him GELT !! You do understand GELT, yes?
Karen & I do not exchange gifts, we do illuminate the candles and say the prayer in the truest meaning of the holiday, rather than commercializing it.

[tarps3]

RE: Front Page

Sandy,

Speaking as a Christian, I don't know a whole lot about the Jewish traditions, but I can agree with you on one thing - this time of the year is entirely too commercialized!

I have been hearing Christmas songs in department stores since before Halloween and I was already sick of them before Thanksgiving.

It's like being force-fed "holiday cheer" instead of finding it within yourself. I resent it personally.

My daughter is at an age where she too has outgrown "toys" and wants computers, Ipods, and such.... However, we strive as a family to remember the true meanings behind the holidays and act accordingly. The commercialism and rampant consumerism really turns me off.
I do however enjoy the religious services and reading scripture and imagining what things must have been like...

Too all of you on the board - here's wishing you a wondrous and safe holiday season.

Casey

[Alexander]

RE: Front Page

I think one other Jewish holiday is festive Rosh Hashhanah. It celebrates the new year - the creation of the Earth.

I agree that this time of year is very commercial. It is all about selling things. I have heard that 20% of sales occur at this time of year, so our economy depends on it. This commercial success has driven retailers to model all holidays on Christmas, just change the colors. Note how Halloween has grown as commercial holiday.

Lately, it seems that in our PC culture that though Christmas is the holiday that is source of all these sales, you cannot mention the name for fear of insulting someone. Macy's is being boycotted by some groups because it has no reference to Christmas in its stores. "Happy Holidays" is the generic greeting of this season.

I bought a real Christmas tree yesterday. The store helper who mounted it on my car wished me, "happy holidays." I guess I might have been insulted if he wished me "Merry Christmas" if I had bought the tree for Arbor Day.

Alexander
1959 Hardtop
1960 Golde Top

[SandyBoy]

RE: Front Page

Casy, if you're still here. One thing that I always enjoyed about being Jewish was that part of the upper grades of Hebrew school's requirement was that (as a group) we had to learn about, and travel to, and attend the services of other religions. As a result, I have been to many other religious services, including - but not limited to - Quaker, Baptist, Luthern, Catholic, Presbyterian and 7th Day Adventist(s). I have also been to Midnight Mass that I really enjoyed, (it's really beautiful). We had to learn about each, and met with the spirtual leader after the service to ask question. I am thankful that I listened & learned. Sadly, the other religions do not do this. I beleive that understanding & compassion are the steel walls against bigotery & hatred that we see all around us. When I send Christmas cards to my friends who are Christian, I always write on them to remember to keep Christ in CHRISTmas!! (Imagine a Jew writing such?) It stuns them & makes them think.
Seriously though, I do think that the even somewhat - (however little) the percentage may be, most believers do honor the real spirit of Christmas, even with the commercializing of it.
Well, tomorrow eve at 6:30 Jews around the world will be lighting candle #1, and (per usual) burning a finger! I wish my Son could be home, but he is away at college until 12/21 ~ that part really stinks! x( :-(

[Alexander]

RE: Front Page

Learning and respecting about other religions is a great idea. I do not know how universally this is practiced. I think it is uncommon though.

Tolerance should be the religion of the world. Then we could all live in peace.

Alexander
1959 Hardtop
1960 Golde Top

[SandyBoy]

RE: Front Page

I am no expert, but as far as I know, only Jews do it, allthough I have met several Ministers & Priests that know an awful lot about the Jewish religion. You are partially correct, Rosh Hashanah is a happy time, but Yom Kippur sure as heck is not! Lots of crying among parishoners going on! Especially during the 15 minute service honoring deceased parents! People walk in with tissue boxes sometimes! I had tissues in every pocket.

[tarps3]

RE: Front Page

Sandy - I appreciate and agree with your posting.

I too have attended many different religious ceremonies and learned quite a lot. I have attended a few Jewish ceremonies when I lived on the East Coast as well as many different Protestant and Catholic services. The Jewish functions seemed very meaningful and had a rich heritage - even though I didn't understand much of them in detail.

Some of the most beautiful, spiritual ceremonies I have been fortunate enough to attend were Native American. They have such a deep and honest relationship with the Earth. Their ceremonies reflect that, as well as their rich history.

Throughout all of the differing ceremonies, the one thing that was a constant was the presence of God. Sure, different religions portray the Creator differently and all have their particular spin, but He is the reason behind it all. Even the Native Americans refer to the Creator in their ballads. That common belief links us all.

I always believed that it didn't matter precisely "how" you pay reverence, but rather that it was heartfelt and genuine.

Casey

[SandyBoy]

RE: Front Page

Agreed

What I really love are ethnic jokes that don't insult. Anybody got any to share?

I'll give ya a good Jewish one ~

Sol & Esther were very late for Yom Kipper services in the synagogue. When they arrived, the place was packed wall-to-wall. Being elderly, neither of them could hear really well and the only seats remaining were in the last row, so they could neither see OR hear. Esther complained, Vhat to do? Sol said, Don't Vorry - I'll get us a seat right up front. Sol then made his way up to the front where the Rabbi was standing in place ready to start the service. Sol got up to him & whispered something in his ear. Then before starting the Rabbi made this announcement:
"Our dear friend Sol has told me that a white Cadillac in the parking lot has it's lights on and he could not remember the license plate number."
Immedately 30% of the congregation rose to go out & see if it was their Cadillac.
Esther & Sol sat in front while the others hurried out to see.