Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas

Sing along to Jewish Christmas songs

Happy Hanumas, to all who celebrate! I thought I’d take this holiday moment to direct you to the big Christmas piece I wrote this year at the Revealer, about the meaning of Jewish Christmas music. Here’s a brief excerpt.

Christmas is in many ways central to American identity, and Jewish Christmas songs have (like my daughter) claimed that American identity for Jewish people, helping Jews fit into America. Jewish songs can also (like me) express distance or ambivalence about the season and its meaning. The Jewish Christmas music tradition is both about belonging and not belonging, about belieevvvveing and not believing. If America is a winter wonderland, that winter wonderland has, in part, been built by Jewish people. Though sometimes we maybe still shiver a bit.

You can read the whole thing here. And if you enjoy it consider, in the holiday spirit, becoming a subscriber, here or on Patreon!