Joshua Eli Plaut, an ordained rabbi, holds a Ph.D.
in Hebrew and Judaic Studies. He is the author of Greek Jewry in
the Twentieth Century, 1913–1983 and has documented Jewish life in
the diaspora through photography and oral history, ethnography and
popular culture, resulting in exhibitions at museums and galleries
worldwide.
Joshua Eli Plaut, an ordained rabbi, holds a Ph.D.
in Hebrew and Judaic Studies. He is the author of Greek Jewry in
the Twentieth Century, 1913–1983 and has documented Jewish life and
popular culture through photography, oral history, and ethnography.
A Kosher Christmas; is a richly amusing, well-researched present to
American Jews, allowing them to wear their new cashmere sweaters to
Chinese restaurants on Christmas day without being racked by
religious guilt."
"With humor and insight Rabbi Joshua Plaut, Ph.D. recounts the
meaning of Christmas to American Jews. This 'only in America'
account should be read by Jews and non-Jews alike but especially by
those of us who have always felt a little bit guilty for enjoying
Christmas.
Christmas is our only national holiday founded on religious beliefs, and Plaut, a rabbi and Jewish studies scholar, describes the multitude of creative rituals, activities, and responses Jews have developed to counteract feelings of marginalization and "transform Christmastime into a holiday season belonging to all Americans." American Jews have succeeded in getting broad recognition of Hannukah with postage stamps, a White House menorah lighting, and the Empire State Building set alight in blue and white. As individuals, Jews embrace the season's family focus, but avoid Christmas-related activities, visiting Jewish museums, watching movies, and flock to Chinese restaurants on Christmas-a tradition that has spawned many parodies as well as San Francisco's Kung Pao Kosher Comedy, a highly popular evening of Jewish standup comedy at a Chinese restaurant. Volunteerism on Christmas has become an established tradition, with Jews distributing food, clothing, and toys to needy non-Jews, filling in for colleagues at work so they can celebrate the holiday, and even donning Santa suits at stores, hospitals, and other venues. Although traditionalists may see this book as a cautionary tale on assimilation, Plaut offers a quirky, provocative, yet solid study of contemporary Jewish behavior and emerging new forms of popular culture. Illus. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Plaut (Greek Jewry in the Twentieth Century, 1913-1983), explores how the meanings of the Christmas holiday have become Americanized and changed, in particular by American Jews, both secular and religious. For American Jews, the holiday has always presented a kind of dilemma: does one assert one's own separate religious identity, develop a means of paticipating in Christmas celebrations as a Jew, or seek to change the meanings of the holiday? Plaut shows that Jews have responded to Christmas in a variety ways, including fostering the tradition of going out for Chinese dinner that day, a means of outsiders becoming a group of insiders. Plaut covers this approach in its own chapter. Other chapters address the evolution of Hanukkah into a larger than traditionally established Jewish December celebration; remaking Christmas into a secular time of giving; and Jews' contributions to the American popular culture of the Christmas holidays, e.g., the Christmas songs written by Jews in support of Christmas as representing family, peace, and joy. Verdict This book is a clever look at the dilemmas presented to us at Christmas, whether in fact we are Jews or not. It is academic in tone (its title, subtitle, and cover may mislead) but nimbly written. Many readers will be likely to enjoy it.-Paul Kaplan, Lake Villa Dist. Lib., IL (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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