Xmas Cards to Jewish People

When I get my act together to send cards (like every other year or so) I almost never get them out in time to be Christmas cards. I've taken to sending more of a New Year, seasons greeting deal with a message like "We wish you peace, love, and joy." Who doesn't want peace, love, or joy?

Hope this helps,
T.

I am a devout and practicing procrastinator. I end up missing all the holidays -- including Secular Humanist Day :). So I just send New Years cards!

I don't get offended by cards that say "Merry Christmas." However, if you know you will be sending them to a lot of Jews, why not send one that simply says "Happy Holidays." "Seasons Greetings" works well too, but I prefer Happy Holidays.

While I don't get upset or offended by merry xmas cards, I do like the ones that are more inclusive more, since it does show that people are thinking about everyone that might receive their cards.

I am Jewish and I don't get offended by Christmas cards. It's the thought that counts and I think it is sweet when people think enough of me to send a card. But you might want to go with a generic Happy Holidays card to be on the safe side.

Mrslavalli - The Jews are G-d's Chosen People, and although we do not believe in any such place as hell, what you have said is one of the most insulting and offensive things you can say. I could go on...but I won't.

Ditto Sarah on everything.

I'm Jewish, and I couldn't care less if people send me Christmas cards. This is truly an instance of "it's the thought that counts."

I do sort of prefer it when people personally say "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas," and I'm offended and upset when people ask my son things like "what is Santa bringing you this year," but with cards, I don't mind a bit.

And, ditto Sarah on mrslavallie. Whoever you are (mrslavallie I mean, not Sarah!), your anti-Semitism makes this board an unwelcoming place for many, many people. It's deeply offensive and wrong. I'm Jewish, but I've read the Sermon on the Mount. If you compare those teachings to what you're saying here, it doesn't sound like you're any kind of Christian at all.

Would you be offended if your Jewish neighbor sent you a Happy Hanukkah card? I'm a Christian and I think when anyone reaches out to their neighbors in kindness and good will, I would not be offended. I'm proud to say "Merry Christmas" at this time of year. In other words PEACE and SHALOM to all our brothers and sisters. AND, it would be good to hear from other cultures to hear their words of GOOD WILL TO ALL.

Just buy some "Happy Holidays", "Peace" or other sort of non-specific "thinking of you, enjoy the winter" cards. This should work out fine since you don't know them well enough to know their faith, and they shouldn't be offended by a more generic, less specific message.

I have friends who celebrate Winter Solstice (Yule), Christmas, and Hanukkah, so I try to make sure to send a pleasant winter greeting to most, and to my very-specific friends and family who identify as Christian, I do send a Christmas card. And when people don't address me with my personal Happy Secular Humanist Day (ha ha!) I am not offended in the least. Well wishes from a smiling face are really all that matters.

(tee hee-- we actually celebrate it all; it's more fun that way!)

There are lots of cards out there that convey holiday tidings without the words "Merry Christmas."

Seems like the perfect time to get some!

ETA, Gina, re: the alleged Ben Stein quote:
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_ben_stein_christ...
Does anyone check out the emails they get anymore?

None of my Jewish friends care if they get Xmas cards, but the do care if they don't get a card when everyone else does!!!!

(Will there be curmudgeons? Of course! It pays to send them xmas cards the most. Because then you know who they are in the future!)

HOWEVER, most of my Jewish friends roll their eyes (but smile politely, knowing it was the thought that counts) at Chanukah Cards. Why? Because its not an important holiday. The High Holidays (fall) are important. Passover (spring) is important.

Chanukah is just not an important holiday. Its a really minor one (like Ascension day or All Saints Day for Christians) that is only 'important' because its near Christmas. Sort of like how you'd cock an eye row to be receiving all kind of "All Saints Day" stuff... Because the Jewish high holidays are near all saints day. Or tons of Ascension day stuff, because that's near Pessach.

So just send whatever Xmas cards you'd ordinarily send. That's inclusive, instead of well-meaning-but-WHY-do-Christians-DO-this (assigning I e of our minor holidays as equally important with one of their major holidays)

You could send cards with the message of Happy Holidays or Season's Greetings if you are that concerned. If you send a Merry Christmas card, most reasonable people will take it for what it is "wishing them well this season" regardless of if their religion is the same as the greeting is for. Most reasonable people will not get offended if you say "Merry Christmas", "Happy Hannukah" or "Happy Quanza" because they realize it is a thought of good tidings.

I am a Christian and I say Merry Christmas but I also like Happy Holidays since it incorporates all the holidays this time of year. But, I don't get offended if I am met with any of the other greetings.

if you are unsure who is of what religion just get a card that says happy holidays. i don't think most people get offended. probably most are pleased to be remembered, but just in case, being new to the neighborhood i would keep it neutral.
mrslavallie...no comments. really. don't save anyone. save it.

I always have a box of Happy Holiday cards for my Jewish friends. If I don't know if they're Jewish, I just hope for the best. If I know where their house is and I'm driving by, blue lights is a good indication. If they have a mezuzah case on their front door post (it looks like a little rectangular box), that means they are Jewish. Perhaps their last name is a tip-off. (Google last names to see if they are typical Jewish names.) If they have a menorah in their window, that's another clue.

If you know them well enough that you send them cards, then you probably won't offend them if you don't know that they are Jewish. When you find out that someone is, mark it down in your address book so that by the time the next Christmas rolls around, you won't have to worry about it again.

Good luck guessing!

Dawn

Just send a Happy Holidays card. Cut the " Xmas". It either is Christmas or its not.... No need for shorthand .

As a Jewish person, I'm not wild about being wished "Merry X-mas." I'm not offended -- it's just the assumption that everyone celebrates X-mas that bothers me. And I always say "Merry X-mas" back. But I agree that, even though there aren't any major Jewish holidays around this time of year (no, Hanukkah is NOT a major holiday, despite the hype), something that says "Happy Holidays" or even "Happy New Year" is more inclusive. I know some non-religious Jews who send out such cards at this time of year. Good luck, and happy holidays!

-R.

This is one instance where a "Happy Holidays" could come in handy. Right now is Hannukah, so it would be well-timed to cover Hannukah and Christmas.

Find a Happy Holidays card that is more snow related and less Christmas tree related. It would still have the flavor of the holiday without being "too" Christmasy.

I send Happy Holidays cards to everyone on my list because some are Jewish.

If I were your neighbor, I would prefer that you wait until you learned what my preference might be. It's somewhat annoying to me when people assume that I celebrate Christmas and wish me Merry Christmas and ask about my plans, because it puts me on the spot with a stranger. I have to either suck it up and play along or explain that I do not celebrate Christmas. It annoys me because I am rarely in the mood to deal with the looks and the questions that presume that I am weird and wrong. It's not as big a deal at the grocery store, but when it's a neighbor whom I cannot avoid seeing regularly, then that sets me up for discomfort where I live.

Since you already know that you live in a large Jewish community, I think that you should wait until you have more information. If you are really interested in "spreading good cheer" and all, then you should figure out who your audience is first. One Jew on the block might not be offended, but if YOU are the odd man out then you should first learn your surroundings. That would be more neighborly than sending out Christmas cards to everybody.

I only send Christmas/holiday cards to people I know very well, and whom I consider friends.
I can't imagine sending cards to people I just met, or never met, is that what you're asking about, sending cards to a whole community that you barely know?
If you ARE sending holiday cards to people you don't know very well (and therefore are worried about offending) keep them generic, happy holidays, happy new year, etc.
Though I'm pretty sure the Jews are used to the annual Christmas Greetings by now LOL :)

If it's not too late to get more generic Happy Holidays cards, then that's the best way to go. If you've already ordered custom cards and they all say Merry Christmas, then I don't think people will take offense. My husband's family is Jewish so we order two sets of cards - the smaller set says Happy Hanukkah and goes just to them, the larger set says Happy Holidays but has a more Christmas-y look to them and those go to those who I know celebrate Christmas as well as those who I don't know what they celebrate.

I do "Merry Christmas" on my cards because I like it, but I also know for a fact that everyone on my card list celebrates XMas. If I knew there were several people on my list who did not celebrate XMas I would want my cards to say "Peace, Love and Joy this Holiday Season" or "Happy Holidays". That's what I would do in your case, then you don't need to worry about the possibility of offending someone.

But to answer your question, no I don't really see how it's inconsiderate. Sending a card is an act of kindness.

Everyone loves (and respects) and card wishing them well - no matter what.

If one of your new neighbors sent you a Chanukah card, would it upset you? Of course not, you'd be happy to be sent warm wishes.

Next year, get more generic cards.

I usually send my Jewish friends Hannukah cards. If I suspect but am not certain, I send a more generic Christmas card (such as "Peace on Earth"). In general, though, I prefer to send Merry Christmas cards to my friends. I would never be insulted if my Jewish friends wished me a happy Hannukah, as I consider it to mean that they are sharing with me the best wishes of their holiday. So, if I accidently wish a Jewish friend a Merry Christmas instead of a more generic sentiment, I hope that they will also look at it in the same light of me sharing my best, most joyful holiday wishes with them. I just don't see how it's wrong for someone to genuinely give someone else greetings of happiness and joy that they are feeling as they celebrate their holidays.

I suggest a more generic holiday greetings card.

I always opt for the Seasons Greetings or Happy Holidays sentiment to be considerate of all beliefs.