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December 18, 2008
“Deck the halls with gelt and dreidels fa la la la la, la la la la.”
I doubt you’ve ever heard that line before. Why? Because it doesn’t exist — yet. Every holiday season, all you ever hear on the radio or at the mall is Christmas music. Why shouldn’t Hanukka music get equal airtime? Do the Jewish people deserve less recognition every holiday season? I think not.
After more than 2,000 years of persecution, one would think the Jewish people would get a break. How about blue and yellow sprinkles at Dunkin’ Donuts? A Judah Maccabee whose lap you could sit on would be nice.
In this day and age, where people get sued daily for not being politically correct, I’m shocked that Hanukka is not as mainstream as Christmas. While Jews make up a small portion of the population, we actually make up a very large percentage of shoppers.
Hanukka is a holiday that is eight days long, and it has become customary for children to receive presents on each of these eight days. It would stand to reason that because more presents are being bought by Jews per capita, the manufacturers would reach out to them. From an economic standpoint, that is the most logical thing to do.
Companies advertise to certain ethnic and religious groups all the time, but Jews often get left out. I can’t recall a time in my life when I turned on the television and saw an advertisement for a product featuring a man wearing a yarmulke. To me, that doesn’t make any sense.
Now, I understand the traditions that surround Hanukka are important in that they distinguish Hanukka as a holiday celebrating miracles. To observant people, these traditions take precedence over commerce as well as recognition in the non-Jewish world.
Yet is that really the best thing for the Jewish people? For centuries, Jews isolated themselves from the secular community. In some neighborhoods, this is still the case.
Now that Jews are well accepted in the secular culture, I think that it is only fitting that our place in society be enhanced by our contribution to national prosperity. If a line of Jewish-oriented toys was to be extremely successful, then the Jewish market would be pursued as a significant demographic.
Even though conspicuous consumption is not the point of the holiday, and Hanukka is not the “Jewish Christmas,” it is in our interest to be recognized at this time of year.
Is assimilation really what is at risk when people buy Judah Maccabee action figures? Do plastic menoras from Fisher-Price put us in danger of being consumed by secularists?
I believe the answer is no. That fear is unfounded in this day and age.
Christmas and Hanukka are different holidays, that is true. But this country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles and the two holidays should share shelf space and air time.
Both holidays make a cultural impact, and society will eventually take note of just how easy it will be to capitalize on Hanukka.
One day, I hope to turn on the radio, and right after the Elmer Fudd rendition of “Blue, Blue Christmas,” I will hear the “Dreidel Song” or “Ma Oz Tzor,” as well as Adam Sandler’s latest “Hanukka Song.”
One day there will be more than one teeny tiny section of Target devoted to Hanukka. It won’t be a sign of assimilation; rather, it will be a sign of acceptance.
And acceptance will be a good thing for a people who have only known exclusion.
Some holiday season in the future, Hanukka will not be an afterthought; it will be a priority.
Cory Nagelberg, 16, attends Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union and is a member of the editorial board of Nu, NJJN’s magazine for and by teens.
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