A brilliant look at the darker side of the (my) Jewish people, slaughterers of entire towns and ethnic groups. My favorite book on the topic is "God Against The Gods: The History of the War Between Monotheism and Polytheism" – by Jonathan Kirsch. He documents well that ancient Jews were the first "exclusivists." (From a review: He traces the Western history of monotheism's struggles to replace polytheism, starting with Akhenaton all the way to Theodosius. He attempts to correct the distortions of Paganism perpetuated by the Judeo-Christian historians and he laments the lost riches of Greco-Roman culture destroyed by the Christian purges. He wonders what today's world might be like had not Julian foolishly gotten himself killed but had restored Paganism, and thus might have consigned Christianity to no more than a footnote in history. All in all, Kirsch's latest book is well worth reading.) We Jews have conveniently painted ourselves as victims of others' ire and conveniently forgotten the Judeo-Christian habit of decimating other cultures. Maybe that's one reason we've been so disliked and distrusted for Millenia? The Christians picked up the Exlusivist "We have the only truth and if you don't believe it we will kill you" banner, but they're merely students of previous genocidal maniacs. And the Muslims? Inheritors of the same insanity. We can blame Akhenaton, but his reign of terror against his own people, destroying everyone else's gods, lasted only 3 years, until he was overthrown and the people got their gods back. Or maybe we should point to any God who declares themselves One and Only. The only problem I have with the word Lunacy is it appears to blame the Moon, who DOES shake things up every month, but really?
Point taken. But I'm choosing to celebrate the way i always have. (Someone in this thread calls people like me sheeples, and I'm fine with that.) The family comes together. We light candles, we eat. We laugh. There's maybe a moment or two of speaking of "light in dark times" while looking at all the lit candles. There's a sense of shared community. I understand how the roots of this holiday make it unworthy for you. No one wants to celebrate murderers and zealots. But that's not the story I'm telling on Chanukah. And that's my choice, even if my head is in the sand according to your way of viewing these days. My story is come on in, have a latke, let's be together, let's light some candles. We're still here--let's enjoy it while we can. And my memories of my now dead parents doing the same thing. Well, I'm not willing to give that up. Happy Chanukah to those who celebrate. And if you don't want to celebrate, I understand your position.
I celebrated too, Mary, for the same reasons - I have kids, and they love it. Sheeple are people, too. But I'm conflicted, and I tell them the truth behind the story, because I think it's worth knowing that some of our heroes were rather terrible people doing rather terrible things (and Chanukah's a particularly difficult one for me, ethically speaking). Wouldn't it be great if all religions and nations reconsidered their myths, and perhaps began new ones? As for living with your head in the sand - I myself am a proud head-in-sander, I assure you -- there's no other way to live in this post internet world without completely losing one's mind. See you in the sand...
On the other hand, I had lost sight of you after Happyish (which I loved) and that editorial byline alerted me to Mother For Dinner (which I loved and laughed my fool head off), so I found your website and wrote a suitably intemperate old-lady-gushing comment… to which you kindly replied. And that’s how I presume I eventually got notified of this Substack blog where so far at least I get a good dose of you every week.
So now I am hoping this goes on at least as long as I do. Please?
Have your read Hope, a Tragedy? If not, I think you might love that one too. What a lucky bunch we are that Shalom Auslander is a writer, and the writer he is.
There is a kinship between Native Americans and all the children of Israel because of our tribalism. It’s interesting that winning battles are remarkable because there were sooooooooo many; we fight for the right to live on non-arid lands with water. That makes all humans Anishannabe, and none of us can exist without food,shelter,commerce,and our storied historical traditions and triumphs that provide (supposedly) ways to survive and live well on this Earth. Sigh. So WTF is wrong with the entirety of our populations??? Greed. Gold.God. Those are the wedges that divide us politically,socially, religiously and economically.(see Jeanne Pirro’s rant on Thanksgiving) Slavery is another story for a different day. But we all should be able to celebrate our freedom to be who we are wherever we are with the sweetest treats to share! Mi’igwetch and Mazel Tov!
Hey, dude, I'm all down with this, except I gotta say: I'm a lunatic and proud of it. What with all the goings-on in the world lately, and the school shootings, and out-of-control baby-tantrum antics in our esteemed House, (not to mention the rest of politics-land), lunatics have really gotten a bad name. Not all of us are into this kind of lunacy, though. There are a lot of peaceful, compassionate lunatics out here, and I resist all attempts to throw me on with the particular flavor of lunatic you describe here. Maybe we could call the holiday Not-Zealot Day? Whaddya think?
Yeah, I messed with that, but then someone could just as easily say, "Hey, I'm a zealot for peace," or something.
I think that as this movement goes forward and we try to get national recognition for our new holiday, we just have to accept that are good types of lunacy and bad.
I'll be honest, Therry, I admire anyone who stands up to the Church as Martin did, but I'm not sure the author of "The Jews and Their Lies" is a great face for Not-Lunatic Day.
A brilliant look at the darker side of the (my) Jewish people, slaughterers of entire towns and ethnic groups. My favorite book on the topic is "God Against The Gods: The History of the War Between Monotheism and Polytheism" – by Jonathan Kirsch. He documents well that ancient Jews were the first "exclusivists." (From a review: He traces the Western history of monotheism's struggles to replace polytheism, starting with Akhenaton all the way to Theodosius. He attempts to correct the distortions of Paganism perpetuated by the Judeo-Christian historians and he laments the lost riches of Greco-Roman culture destroyed by the Christian purges. He wonders what today's world might be like had not Julian foolishly gotten himself killed but had restored Paganism, and thus might have consigned Christianity to no more than a footnote in history. All in all, Kirsch's latest book is well worth reading.) We Jews have conveniently painted ourselves as victims of others' ire and conveniently forgotten the Judeo-Christian habit of decimating other cultures. Maybe that's one reason we've been so disliked and distrusted for Millenia? The Christians picked up the Exlusivist "We have the only truth and if you don't believe it we will kill you" banner, but they're merely students of previous genocidal maniacs. And the Muslims? Inheritors of the same insanity. We can blame Akhenaton, but his reign of terror against his own people, destroying everyone else's gods, lasted only 3 years, until he was overthrown and the people got their gods back. Or maybe we should point to any God who declares themselves One and Only. The only problem I have with the word Lunacy is it appears to blame the Moon, who DOES shake things up every month, but really?
A-fucking-men, Shalom
Fie on the NYT
I still recall with such joy your Yom Kippur op-ed in LA Times calling out God that (his/her/its) atonement to people was long overdue
Sadly, that editor at the LAT left.
Voltaire's birthday gets my vote but there must be latkes and jelly doughnuts. Having escaped from zealots myself I am all for "Not Lunatic Day" !!!
Point taken. But I'm choosing to celebrate the way i always have. (Someone in this thread calls people like me sheeples, and I'm fine with that.) The family comes together. We light candles, we eat. We laugh. There's maybe a moment or two of speaking of "light in dark times" while looking at all the lit candles. There's a sense of shared community. I understand how the roots of this holiday make it unworthy for you. No one wants to celebrate murderers and zealots. But that's not the story I'm telling on Chanukah. And that's my choice, even if my head is in the sand according to your way of viewing these days. My story is come on in, have a latke, let's be together, let's light some candles. We're still here--let's enjoy it while we can. And my memories of my now dead parents doing the same thing. Well, I'm not willing to give that up. Happy Chanukah to those who celebrate. And if you don't want to celebrate, I understand your position.
I celebrated too, Mary, for the same reasons - I have kids, and they love it. Sheeple are people, too. But I'm conflicted, and I tell them the truth behind the story, because I think it's worth knowing that some of our heroes were rather terrible people doing rather terrible things (and Chanukah's a particularly difficult one for me, ethically speaking). Wouldn't it be great if all religions and nations reconsidered their myths, and perhaps began new ones? As for living with your head in the sand - I myself am a proud head-in-sander, I assure you -- there's no other way to live in this post internet world without completely losing one's mind. See you in the sand...
- S.
Nothing good lasts, does it?
On the other hand, I had lost sight of you after Happyish (which I loved) and that editorial byline alerted me to Mother For Dinner (which I loved and laughed my fool head off), so I found your website and wrote a suitably intemperate old-lady-gushing comment… to which you kindly replied. And that’s how I presume I eventually got notified of this Substack blog where so far at least I get a good dose of you every week.
So now I am hoping this goes on at least as long as I do. Please?
Have your read Hope, a Tragedy? If not, I think you might love that one too. What a lucky bunch we are that Shalom Auslander is a writer, and the writer he is.
Of course
I have read everything he has published, and with enormous delight
You are so right!!
There is a kinship between Native Americans and all the children of Israel because of our tribalism. It’s interesting that winning battles are remarkable because there were sooooooooo many; we fight for the right to live on non-arid lands with water. That makes all humans Anishannabe, and none of us can exist without food,shelter,commerce,and our storied historical traditions and triumphs that provide (supposedly) ways to survive and live well on this Earth. Sigh. So WTF is wrong with the entirety of our populations??? Greed. Gold.God. Those are the wedges that divide us politically,socially, religiously and economically.(see Jeanne Pirro’s rant on Thanksgiving) Slavery is another story for a different day. But we all should be able to celebrate our freedom to be who we are wherever we are with the sweetest treats to share! Mi’igwetch and Mazel Tov!
I shall celebrate the Not Lunatic Day!
Shared, I support this movement wholeheartedly.
Shabbat Shalom. . . with you 100%. Thank you.
Seconding Not Lunatic Day. Love this. Sharing.
As always, unafraid to say what we're all thinking....much more eloquently
You could come over and celebrate Yule with me. We celebrate the return of warmer, longer days (in due time).
No zealots, no sacrifices of any sort, lots of candle lighting and Wassail. Bring the latkes if you'd like; they'll go nicely.
Or celebrate like the Greeks I knew in Athens and drink - a lot.
..gluten-free doughnuts and gluten-free latkes. actually fine with no doughnuts, just gluten-free latkes.
and which month would you choose and what date?
Hmm. Good question. Offhand I'd say November 21, Voltaire's birthday, but I'm open to suggestions...
Day rhymes with May
Celebrate rhymes with eight
My mental abilities are currently exhausted beyond that. i guess I have to eat or smth
https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/scenes-from-a-hallmark-hanukkah-movie-written-by-someone-who-has-definitely-met-a-jew?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Hey, dude, I'm all down with this, except I gotta say: I'm a lunatic and proud of it. What with all the goings-on in the world lately, and the school shootings, and out-of-control baby-tantrum antics in our esteemed House, (not to mention the rest of politics-land), lunatics have really gotten a bad name. Not all of us are into this kind of lunacy, though. There are a lot of peaceful, compassionate lunatics out here, and I resist all attempts to throw me on with the particular flavor of lunatic you describe here. Maybe we could call the holiday Not-Zealot Day? Whaddya think?
Yeah, I messed with that, but then someone could just as easily say, "Hey, I'm a zealot for peace," or something.
I think that as this movement goes forward and we try to get national recognition for our new holiday, we just have to accept that are good types of lunacy and bad.
Also, "Not Lunatic" is funnier.
Point taken. 😏
A converted Protestant here, reminding you of Reformation Sunday on Martin Luther's birthday and the fact that Luther married and enjoyed beer.
I'll be honest, Therry, I admire anyone who stands up to the Church as Martin did, but I'm not sure the author of "The Jews and Their Lies" is a great face for Not-Lunatic Day.