Comments on: American Jews are thankful for America

By: Michael Lumish

Michael Lumish — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 00:33:29 +0000

You're on to something, Ronn.

American Jews, such as myself, love Thanksgiving.

I love everything about it, from the gathering at the table to the football to the childhood associations to the candied yams and house-made gravy.

Thanksgiving is a major holiday, unlike Christmas, wherein we can fully participate and join with the rest of the country in a mutual celebration.

The only drawback is Laurie's grandmother's traditional stuffing!

;O)

By: Sarah Williams

Sarah Williams — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 21:05:41 +0000

"because Thanksgiving is a completely secular holiday in terms of its origins" — actually, you're wrong. The Pilgrims were deeply religious, the Thanksgiving they made was meant to be religious. They modeled it on their conception of Sukkot as the original Day of Thanksgiving (a Puritan holiday meant to replace church holy days) in Plymouth was prompted by a good harvest. American Jews have much to be thankful for–the freedom to worship as they please; a growing awareness of civil rights and the value of diversity which negates traditional social and business antisemitism (don't forget college quotas and redlining in my parents' days). However, I would not count a 50% intermarriage rate as something to be thankful for—unless you're equally thankful for Christian grandchildren who haven't got a clue about Judaism or the Jewish people.

By: Alan Miller

Alan Miller — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 18:52:50 +0000

Who sings Onward Christian Soldiers as a Christmas carol?

By: Alan Miller

Alan Miller — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 18:51:02 +0000

There are two secular holidays in Israel: Independence Day and Knesset Voting Day. On the first the haredim don't participate and on the second they're out in droves. Who knows what they'd do on an Israeli Thanksgiving Day.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 13:11:25 +0000

typical, arrogant american rhetoric.