new post »
see more posts »
Do Jewish people celebrate Thanksgiving? I want to invite some Jewish friends, but don't want to offend. TIA!
47 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]-
-
Well, are they particularly religious (i.e. orthodox)? If they aren't, they are probably like most other Americans. Most Jewish families I know (including mine) celebrate it. However, when we were growing up it wasn't an "important" holiday so we didn't always do very much (mom might do a turkey breast and some mashed potatoes, but we might even skip it). However, if we were invited to join someone else we'd of course do so. If they are kosher, it's a different matter, but that would be the case if you were just inviting them over for dinner and has nothing to do with whether they celebrate Thanksgiving.
[ Reply | Options ]
-
It is a religion. Jewish people born in America are American, like everyone else.
[ Reply | Options ]-
You shouldn't invite them. You should spare them the slightly uncomfortable situation of having to decline an invitation from a total idiot.
[ Reply | Options ]-
The religion is not in any way an issue. I have never known anyone who didn't celebrate Tday because they were Jewish. Some people just don't care for/about the holiday. The only issue is if they keep kosher diets. Just say you'd like to invite them, and wonder if they have any dietary restrictions. There are kosher turkeys, but if they're really kosher they won't eat anywhere but a kosher home or restaurant, because it's more than the food. It's not offensive to ask if someone is kosher BTW.
[ Reply | Options ]
-
Not sure why people are giving OP a hard time. A couple of years ago I asked a collegue, who is an orthodox Jew what she was doing for Thanksgiving and she replied "it's not our holiday", when I said "you don't consider yourself American" she couldn't explain why they don't celebrate it. Not that I care if they celebrate or not, but I do find it offensive that someone born and raised in America would say a 100% American holiday isn't theirs.
[ Reply | Options ]When I was growing up the very Christian Jehovah's Witness kids in our class weren't allowed to even make the traditional "trace the hand" turkey art project in class, and all the Jewish kids did. Thanksgiving is a secular holiday -- some people celebrate it and some don't because it's not important to them. I don't get offended if you don't celebrate Arbor Day each year -- do you? How could you even consider yourself American and not plant a tree that day? for shame!
[ Reply | Options ]when I was growing up the Jehovah's Witness kids complained about the turkey art project and none of us could do it.
[ Reply | Options ]I bet your parents were thrilled they didn't have to display yet another "hand turkey" on the refrigerator!
[ Reply | Options ]Wait--what on earth is wrong with Thanksgiving for Jehovah's Witnesses? The Halloween thing I get, the not pledging allegiance, the not receiving blood transfusions, but what's wrong with turkey and some mild patriotism?
[ Reply | Options ]
If they are Orthodox, don't invite them unless you can be sure to cook a completely kosher meal. Even if they are not observant, stay away from pork products.
[ Reply | Options ]-
-
i'm Muslim and I never celebrated Thanksgiving either...I know some Muslims that do, but not many....so I think it's a valid question to ask, even if Thanksgiving is a secular holiday. Amazed at some of the snarky responses here.
[ Reply | Options ]-
Imagine if your parents move to China...they aren't going to start celebrating all the Chinese holidays right away even if their kids are born there-it would take a while. So we do celebrate july 4th, halloween, etc. but Thanksgiving hasn't caught on yet. We kind of get tired...cuz in america there are too many holidays..so we skip some.
[ Reply | Options ]
-
the Orthodox women I worked with at school said that even though they were born in the US they were not really American so no they do not celebrate.
[ Reply | Options ]Some people seem to use nationality and religion interchangably in this post. Saying you don't celebrate Thanksgiving because you are Jewish or Muslim implies that you are less of an American if you belong to either of these religions. The creators of the first American Thanksgiving came to this country in search of religious freedom. This line of thinking is a slap in the face to those ideas.
[ Reply | Options ]
-
UrbanBaby Asks...
Are you or your partner ever naked in front of your children?
Already voted? View Results
Flashback
The Kid's Menu
Video: Cooking With Grandma Gigi
Granddaughter Olivia helps make plantation casserole...
Also:Lunchbox Recipes
School Lunch Obsessive (video)
Make your Own Baby Food
Baby Food Taste-Off
Is it wrong to ask minors to mix martinis?
Can you tell a pregnant boozer to stop?
