All I want for Christmas is Jews
Two episodes a week? It must be some kind of non-denominational holiday season miracle!
Hello from your favorite podcast that magically lasts an entire holiday season. We had TWO episodes this week, one for Hannukah and one for Chsitmas, and here they are in historical order:
First up, Yael Jewsplains the story of Channukah to a mortified Chaya Leah, who had one or two corrections to offer. We talk reality vs. expectations when it comes to holiday cheer, and introduce a new segment: Things That Aren't The Holocaust.
This week in TTATH: "The great Twitter massacre of 2022." Next week, we’ll talk about this modern-day massacre (trigger warning - NY Times):
Also, do you know what Chaya Leah's grandparents got for Chanukah in Auschwitz?? Nothing, that's what! So stop complaining.
In honor of the birth of Santa CLaus, and to make our Goyfriends feel included, we decided to also record a Christmas episode! However, joke’s on you - our guest is a Rabbi!
David Komerofsky is a rabbi in Canton Ohio. Growing up in the Midwest with a Jewish community the size of a high school football team, Rabbi David amassed an encyclopedic knowledge of all things Goy, including our people’s guilty pleasure - Christmas music.
We talked to Rabbi David about the age old antisemitic trope that Jews are behind all the Christmas songs and… oh wait, what? It’s true? Why *did* Jews write the best Christmas songs? Turns out there is a simple answer, and it’s one that anyone who grew up as a bit if an outsider will relate to. We even made you a playlist of kosher christmas songs:
Merry Christmas to all our Christians, we love that you listen to an episode called ask a Jew and promise to protect you if anyone ever calls you an antisemite. To our Jews, happy C/Hannukah! Turns out if you go watch a public menorah lighting it doesn’t count, you still have to go light one yourself at home, as Yael just learned while attending a fiery but mostly peaceful gathering of Jews.
If you celebrate anything else or are a practicing atheist (we love those too!) please let us know below so we can properly shower you with blessings. Email us at askajewpod@gmail.comSign up for our newsletter at askajew.substack.com
Don't see a post for the gelt digger episode, but I wanted to say that there is a kosher benihana style place in Queens. It's been through a few different rebrandings, but it's still there. Class trip next time CL is in.
Jew on Christmas is my favorite holiday! Do not feel bad for those without plans (or maybe not all). No expectations and everything’s closed.
Re: Christmas stuff. My aunt liked to cook and decorate so her house would be decked out for Christmas. It drove my dad crazy. He hated going over there while she had a tree up. He’d grumble in the driveway for a minute or two.
The Hasidic kids and matching clothes! I always thought that was just efficient. I hadn’t realized the moms really love it (I’m assuming Chaya Leah speaks for the orthodox community). That’s cute.
Anyways, day 6 of candle lighting, ladies 🤘🏼 Happy Chanukah! (you win Chaya Leah). Can’t wait to listen to the Xmas song episode.