(no subject)

[yendi]

So, the heating guy came over this morning, and as he was writing up the invoice for the landlord, he asked a variation of the question we often get: "So, what's Christmas time like on Christmas Lane?"

I answered him, honestly, by saying that we were away last Christmas, but that since it's a heavily Jewish neighborhood, I'd guess it would be pretty tame.

He continued to write up the invoice, then looked up at me, like something had just sunk in.

"You mean Jews don't celebrate Christmas?"

I was stunned. I mean, duh? The operative word in "Christmas" is "Christ." Jews, seeing as they're not Christians, don't celebrate it. Granted, half-assed Jews who only consider themselves Jewish by heritage (like yours truly) might celebrate it, because a gift is a gift. But this is a neighborhood of extreme Orthodox Jews (extreme in the black coat, beard, etc sense, not in the ESPN snowboarding sense).

"Nope."

"Oh." Pause. "But aren't they the chosen ones?"

Sigh. He wasn't being evangelical. He was just dense. The conversation went in circles for a while. He couldn't get past the idea that the "chosen ones" might not have chosen Christ. Not that he seemed to have any real concept of what a messiah is, either, or what the Jews were "chosen" for. And it only got worse when I made the mistake of mentioning Channukah.

Had I felt like really fucking with his head, I would have brought Islam into the picture (Zuul only knows what his thoughts on followers of that religion are), and maybe even started to mention Eastern and Pagan religions. He didn't strike me as the sort of guy who'd get the idea that Nirvana was anything but a shockingly overrated band.

And I'm sure I could have wrapped his brain into a pretzel if I'd mentioned Jews for Jesus.

As it was, I gently did my best to explain the difference between Christians and Jews ("One belives that Jesus was the Messiah, the other doesn't" should be pretty clear-cut, even if it oversimplifies and generalizes). I don't think he actually believed me, but he seemed to get the idea that, on some level, Jews might not be Christians. Progress was made.

And yes, that was the most exciting part of the day. The furnace is working fine. Other than that, I made it halfway through the Night Elf part of Warcraft III. I'm underwhelmed. dslartoo was right - - they are an annoying race. Worse, they're boring. Which wouldn't be so bad if the Orc campaign that came before it wasn't so damned good.

Comments

[songwind.livejournal.com]

not in the ESPN snowboarding sense

Thank you, that really made my day.

How warm could a yarmulke keep your head while dropping out a helicopter on skis anyway?

[phantom_wolfboy]

Although, the concept of X-treme Judaism could go over big. Presumably, we'd be talking about full-contact worship and forcible circumcisions . . . the ESPN crowd would love it.

*giggle*

[branwynelf.livejournal.com]

But this is a neighborhood of extreme Orthodox Jews (extreme in the black coat, beard, etc sense, not in the ESPN snowboarding sense).

That made me laugh. I'll never look at the X games the same way though ... ;)

[gothwalk.livejournal.com]

Now, I know I'm under-educated on this stuff, but I'm trying to come up to speed.

What is/was/will be/would be Jews for Jesus?

My head's having a go at spinning.

[auryn29a.livejournal.com]

That reminds me of when I was working as a data entry slave at Wachovia. A cow-orker was looking at a calendar and just said, "What's Chanukah?" She pronounced the "ch" like in "chew." Oy.

Of course, when I was growing up, I thought the pope was Jewish 'cause he wore that cute little hat.

I've seen this around but thought it was some kind of joke. Please explain to me "Jews for Jesus."

[maida-mac.livejournal.com]

Heh. You were far more polite than I would have been with the clue-bat. :)

Especially after my recent episode of having to explain that agnostic does not equal atheist.

My head hurts.

[dslartoo.livejournal.com]

I hear the ending of WCIII is kind of underwhelming too, but the credits are frickin' hilarious. I expect I'll probably wind up playing a lot of WCIII in the upcoming couple of weeks since I'll be without net access at home, so I may finish it pretty soon.

cheers,
Phil

(who is still giggling at the idea of X-Treme Jews)....

[bardiphouka.livejournal.com]

Jews for Jesus is supposedly an organisztion of Jews who have converted to Christianity. I say supposedly because most of the members I have argue..err I mean met were Baptists to begin with.

[tarpo.livejournal.com]

I take a simplistic look on it all.. Jill being Jewish means we get to spend her side of the holidays with her family.. and my side of it with mine..

Everyone is happy..

Did you know that over the entire island of Newfoundland there are only about 200 jews?

[grammardog]

But Jews still celebrate Easter, right?

Enjoyed reading your journal. :)

Sara