Imagine that all the time, and you’d live on the Upper West Side.

Which misses you, btw.

Hi Honey,

The only 2 places you would be able to be Jewish without explanation are: 1.Israel, and, 2.New YOrk City!!!! Other than those 2 places, with the exception of suburbs in large cities around the US that have VERY big Jewish populations, that is it!!!!!!!!! Remember, we are the “chosen people”, chosen for hard work, discrimination, chosen to live in a Christian world, chosen to constantly have to explain ourselves.
It is a rough road…but, a rewarding one in the long run. We have been around for 5600+ years and persevered through thousands of years of persecution, being run out of our homeland on numerous occasions and just, always, having to fight for our rights and our lives. Our ancestors had it much harder than we, though. Chances are, though, with a less christian-right fundamentalist federal government, things could have been made a little easier. Be proud, most Jews vote their consciences which includes social issues. We are an educated, giving and caring people and most of the world recognizes this, though they may not admit it!!!
Stand up proud, we are all lucky to be Jewish Americans!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, MOM

One more place, North West London! In golders green, there is a wire going around the whole area because that makes the town an eruv (walled city) therefore, people are allowed to carry things on Shabat. Kind of a cop-out, I know but so is kosher for Passover cake!

SUNY at Buffalo is another place you can be Jewish and not have to explain it. Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur were days off from classes and none of the Christian holidays were (with the exception of Christmas which was between fall semester and spring semester). Then I was the one explaining that I don’t take exams on holidays.

Of course, this is where I learned much of my Jewish knowledge. I find it interesting to have a some understanding of the religion that Christianity was born from.

i was shopping at the grocery store and struck up a rather bland conversation with the lady in front of me. something about a magazine cover, i don’t know.
whatever we chatted about, the stranger bond was just close enough that she wished me a cheerful “Merry Christmas” as she departed with her groceries.
her little daughter tugged at her elbow and said, “Mom! You’re not supposed to say ‘Merry Christmas’. She might be Jewish! You’re supposed to say, ‘Happy Holidays!’”
the mom patted her daughter on the shoulder and, indeed, wished me a Happy Holiday.

Welcome to my world, though I’m a Muslim living in the Fairfax district, surrounded by over consumerism. I too, have to explain not having an Christmas tree, and also have to explain why Ramadan moves up 2 weeks every secular year.

As for the sufganiyot (thanks for the spelling!), we loaded up on those yesterday. I used to eat them growing up and just loved that I moved here and can get them fresh. The only time of year that I will eat jelly doughnuts. Happy Hanukkah!

I’m with Jenn.

You can also count Syracuse University and SUNY (State University of NY) Binghamton as places that cancelled all classes on Jewish holidays.

But H, I can totally understand the ire that would grow with the hysteria surrounding Christmas. It’s almost over!

My company (a Fortune 500 corporation) offers two floating holidays to its workers, that it can take at any time.

I grew up around Fairfax, but now live in the deli-free zone of northern California. It is such a coming home to go to those bakeries and delis and banter with the people there.

I was born and raised in Israel, and I have not once had any of the problems you describe. That’s the beauty of living in a land of Jews - It’s all obvious…

What good are floating holidays if I have to take time for Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashana by default, and the goyem can take it anytime they please? I’m still shorted 2 vacation days!

We’re all in the minority in some sense or another. The Chosen People have more wealth per capita than any other ethnic group in the US. Nothing wrong with that, but I’m not going to feel sorry for you that you have to hear “Merry Christmas” in a country that is 85% Christian. Why does that bother you? There is nothing offensive about it and Christians certainly don’t mean anything when they wish you a Merry Christmas. I for one think it’s wonderful to open my mind to other religions and cultures. If I lived in Israel or another country where my religion was in the minority I wouldn’t run around feeling sorry for myself!