Any Jewish people here? [Bob asks]

[Bob]

(This is a serious question.)

[realitytest]

Me!  But having started out with your (excellent) mental block question, I am reminded that I desperately need to overcome a serious block in accomplishing some urgent paperwork.  Deadline  Jan 1...Cost if I don't  make it - seven or eight thousand dollars.  Help!  So, I must adjourn for now.  I will find your question after the New Year if I haven't gotten back before then (in case a one word answer isn't alll you wanted ).

Cross your fingers for me that I overcome this inertia !

reality test

[realitytest]

HOW did your "thiis is serious" get on line after my reply???

rt

[Bob]

I probably hit the reply button before you.

What is a "horah?"  I know it's some type of dance, but what is it more specifically?  I heard it in a Hanukah song and did a double take.   'What did they say?!'

[hodi]

me, i'm israeli too.

[zemos]

I'm Jewish from Israel too

[realitytest]

Forgot to add, I'm a dual Israeli-American citizen.

rt

So someone tell him what the horah is, already. Gotta go!

[athykay]

Bob, we've gotta get you to  a bar mitzvah or Jewish wedding.  It's the  Jewish (Yiddish?) circle dance that  I always associate with the song, Hava Nagila.

[ehpianist]

I'm Jewish on the wrong half, and he's non-practicing (only goes to temple at Passover...for the food).  Same case for my fiancee's parents, maybe when we marry we'll make half a good Jew?

Elena
https://www.pianofourhands.com

[Bob]

Bob, we've gotta get you to  a bar mitzvah or Jewish wedding.  It's the  Jewish (Yiddish?) circle dance that  I always associate with the song, Hava Nagila.

Interesting  (feels enlighten... a little bit)

[hodi]

Forgot to add, I'm a dual Israeli-American citizen.

rt

So someone tell him what the horah is, already. Gotta go!

horah is an israeli folk dance

[teachum]

So - here's a question for Jewish members.  Seems to me like Hannakah is its own beautiful story and celebration in its own right.  Does it offend Jewish people when Christians try to turn it into a sort of Jewish Christmas?  It offends me.  I never really knew the story of Hannakah until my Jewish piano teacher took me to a "this is your life " thing  in her honor held during the season in San Diego.  I think its a wonderful celebration that shouldn't be muddled up with Christmas.  What do you think?

[Jeffrey]

Teachum - My understanding is that Chanukah was a minor holiday in the 'old world'.  (I got it - one bottle of oil lasted a whole 8 days - wow.) But it is the biggest holiday that falls around Xmas time.  So there were cultural influences to make it culturally bigger than it was, from a purely religious point of view, as Jews moved to America.  I don't know that it was Christian pressure as such, but perhaps a process of acculturation (Jewish kids wanted presents in December, too, like all their friends.)   Something like that.   

[zemos]

Teachum - My understanding is that Chanukah was a minor holiday in the 'old world'.  (I got it - one bottle of oil lasted a whole 8 days - wow.) But it is the biggest holiday that falls around Xmas time.  So there were cultural influences to make it culturally bigger than it was, from a purely religious point of view, as Jews moved to America.  I don't know that it was Christian pressure as such, but perhaps a process of acculturation (Jewish kids wanted presents in December, too, like all their friends.)   Something like that.   

If so, it is like that in Israel too, and it isn't for presents hehe.... It's just a nice vacation that we all like, so why not?

[teachum]

Okay - Thanks for the responses.  I think it's great that everyone gets a holiday! 

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanakah (one n or 2?)