"Chinese Food for Christmas"

[ellenkushner]

I thought this video was really funny - though I don't really like the way everyone uses Chasidic guys as visual representations of "real Jews." Yeah, they're colorful - but they're a weird sect from Eastern Europe who think it's still 1780 or something! I mean, it's like using the Amish to represent all Christians - or whirling Sufi dervishes to represent all Muslims. Sure, the Chasids think they're the only True Jews around - but must we all encourage them?

I also wanted to say, lest anyone misunderstand my "No Little Baby Jesus" comment, that I love Christmas. I do. We went to a Christmas concert at St. Bart's on Friday night, and I got all emotional - that music is so lovely. I grew up singing and listening to it. It sometimes makes me wish I was a Christian, so I could throw myself wholeheartedly into the passion, the pageantry and the faith. But I'm not. It's not my inheritance. But there is great beauty in every tradition - that's what Sound & Spirit is all about. We can choose a tradition we're not born into, and some do. But I love the one I got. I just like visiting the others, though; it's one of the things I love about our pluralistic society, thank you very much. But it's also one reason I had to write The Golden Dreydl: it begins with a little girl's Christmas Envy . . . and in all my Official Interviews & FAQ's I talk about it, too.

Comments

Here, here!

[inner-kitten.livejournal.com]

I wholeheartedly agree - you can love Christmas music without being Christian!

Though I have to admit that when I was a kid I was always sad I didn't get a bat mitzvah. I have some degree of jewish envy... even though I didn't choose my inheritance either: pagan! Anyway, Happy solyulchrismachanukwanzika!

[lauriemann.livejournal.com]

I sing in a community choir that meets in a temple. I was amused to see the sign for a temple dinner at a local Chinese restaurant on Christmas Eve.

[miep.livejournal.com]

my ex and I used to laugh that she couldn't uphold her family Christmas tradition of chinese food, as we were always at my mom's for Christmas.

i like borrowing other people's festivals and holidays -- the year should be more festive!

[ellen-denham.livejournal.com]

I grew up in a small protestant denomination. The best way I can summarize my attitude towards religion now is that there is something good in a multitude of faiths. I've enjoyed singing the music of many religious that I did not and probably will not ever belong to. Another singer friend of mine with whom I sang for several years at a reform temple and I had a conversation about how much we loved singing for the High Holy Days and how much we got out of the services. He said it best. "It's like auditing. You get all the benefit but you're not doing it for credit."

"It's like auditing. You get all the benefit but you're not doing it for credit."

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Perfect!

[dyfferent.livejournal.com]

I have to say the dude in the band made me think of ZZ Top. :)

[handworn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they're colorful - but they're a weird sect from Eastern Europe who think it's still 1780 or something! I mean, it's like using the Amish to represent all Christians

And the 1950s were not all tailfins and poodle skirts, and black people do not all wear cheap, glittery jewelry like rappers, and so on. Whether it's about people or not, this is related to prejudice. I don't mean in a bad way, precisely-- just in a this-is-a-human-habit kind of way. It, and prejudice, are a way of saving mental energy, I think. Another example is Hollywood's language: if a woman is shown asking for ice cream and pickles, what's her situation? (Yet my wife reported not having food cravings during her pregnancies.)

[lynn-maudlin.livejournal.com]

A couple of years ago our local temple choir (the temple that uses our church for their High Holy Days - we've been doing this for 8 years now, so we've been through a lot together) joined with ours and we did a Chanukah-Christmas concert - it was fabulous! And our choir director was playing piano for the carol portion and not doing a *great* job and the Jewish pianist (who is a fabulous musician) very politely asked if he would like her to play the carols and free him up to simply conduct - GREAT solution (she was so gracious) and she explained how she loves Christmas music and has been playing it since she was a little kid - she was great.

And at my last Hebrew class (10 days ago or so) our Rabbi pulled out the dreidl and taught us goyim how to play - that was fun.

It's a good thing. I'm glad you can enjoy it, "Christian" or no-- And for several years running my folks and I went to our favorite Chinese restaurant for Christmas dinner! So even the occasional Christian does it...

[elswhere1.livejournal.com]

My new rabbi sent this video out to the congregation's newsgroup a few days ago. Ever since, I've been craving Chinese food.

Only six days to go!

[renakuzar.livejournal.com]

Too many people are afraid that if they open their hearts to take in the beauty of another's religion, they'll deny their own. This usually stems from not seeing so much beauty within their own tradition, but the ugliness of compulsion.

[jaycine.livejournal.com]

haha! i am chinese-american, and thank goodness
the chinese restaurants (and probably some
other ethnic immigrants') are open on x'mas
day!!! my parents liked to take us to vegas
on x'mas day, too. =D

ellen, i just had the tremendous pleasure
of reading privilege of the sword. not like
any fantasy i read and i thoroughly enjoyed
it. thank you for sharing your words and stories!