Jews and "Merry Christmas"

[Fiyero]

My boss is Jewish, and today our department of twelve finally received a report that we'd been waiting eight days for. We were basically at a standstill until it came in. I was the one who received the final copy, and walked into our meeting and said "Merry Christmas, it's finally here!"

My boss, who is Jewish, looked at the other Jewish girl and they both appeared put off. Neither said anything about it, but it makes me wonder do Jews generally not like to hear that phrase?

[smokymountainrain]

My boss is Jewish, and today our department of twelve finally received a report that we'd been waiting eight days for. We were basically at a standstill until it came in. I was the one who received the final copy, and walked into our meeting and said "Merry Christmas, it's finally here!"

My boss, who is Jewish, looked at the other Jewish girl and they both appeared put off. Neither said anything about it, but it makes me wonder do Jews generally not like to hear that phrase?

My Jewish uncle wouldn't mind.

[wuapinmon]

My boss is Jewish, and today our department of twelve finally received a report that we'd been waiting eight days for. We were basically at a standstill until it came in. I was the one who received the final copy, and walked into our meeting and said "Merry Christmas, it's finally here!"

My boss, who is Jewish, looked at the other Jewish girl and they both appeared put off. Neither said anything about it, but it makes me wonder do Jews generally not like to hear that phrase?

It's hard to generalize about how Jews react to this; I have many Jewish friends, and some of them celebrate Christmas because they're secular. Some are more devout, and will respond to a Merry Christmas with Shalom! or Happy Chanukah. Certainly there are some who might be miffed about a perceived cultural faux pas.

If it were me, I would email my boss, apologize that you had offended him (not 'if'), and then ask him to forgive the mistake as an honest one, and that it was more a of colloquial saying than anything else. If he's a decent guy, he'll appreciate the gesture. If he's not, you'll know at least, and not wonder.

Either way, I find its best, in a professional setting, to always apologize if you even think that you might have offended someone. But, I never say, "if I offended you." I go with the "that my comment offended you."

[Moliere]

My boss is Jewish, and today our department of twelve finally received a report that we'd been waiting eight days for. We were basically at a standstill until it came in. I was the one who received the final copy, and walked into our meeting and said "Merry Christmas, it's finally here!"

My boss, who is Jewish, looked at the other Jewish girl and they both appeared put off. Neither said anything about it, but it makes me wonder do Jews generally not like to hear that phrase?

You should have said Merry Xmas!!! Then you would have been fine.

[New Mexican Disaster]

Throw out a few mazel tov's and everything should be fine.

[DU Ute]

Don't worry, so-called "Jews" are not even religious, each one makes up their own belief system!

http://www.cougarboard.com/noframes/...tml?id=5480597

This guy might be the biggest idiot on CB, that's quite the distinction.

[oxcoug]

Most wouldn't think twice - it just depends

I've been in two long dating relationships with Jewish women in the past decade, totaling six years between them. One was a religious (but not Orthodox) Australian Jew, one a very secular New York Jew. And four of my best friends are Jewish - one is an observant Italian Jew, one is an atheist LA Jew, one an agnostic Ann Arbor Jew and one a culturally dedicated but religiously ambivalent Australian Jew (the cousin of my ex). Those relationships have put me in a dozen synagogues in five countries in the past decade.

Now that I've flashed my Jew-dating credentials....

Generally speaking, most of them wouldn't think twice about it. If your two colleagues really had a problem with it then you should find some other Jews to slap them for you.

[oxcoug]

Hmmm fun - how do you mean 'so-called' Jews?

Don't worry, so-called "Jews" are not even religious, each one makes up their own belief system!

http://www.cougarboard.com/noframes/...tml?id=5480597

This guy might be the biggest idiot on CB, that's quite the distinction.

Are you suggesting that they aren't actual Jews?

Intriguing.

[oxcoug]

Ahhhh got it - my bad

Don't worry, so-called "Jews" are not even religious, each one makes up their own belief system!

http://www.cougarboard.com/noframes/...tml?id=5480597

This guy might be the biggest idiot on CB, that's quite the distinction.

Didn't catch the link.

[I.J. Reilly]

Now that I've flashed my Jew-dating credentials....

I think what you established is that you stalk J-Date.

[SoCalCoug]

My boss is Jewish, and today our department of twelve finally received a report that we'd been waiting eight days for. We were basically at a standstill until it came in. I was the one who received the final copy, and walked into our meeting and said "Merry Christmas, it's finally here!"

My boss, who is Jewish, looked at the other Jewish girl and they both appeared put off. Neither said anything about it, but it makes me wonder do Jews generally not like to hear that phrase?

That's almost as bad as when our managing partner sent hams to all the employees, including the Jewish ones (even his Jewish partner).

Fortunately, they all thought it was funny, and they all eat ham, anyway.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Don't worry, so-called "Jews" are not even religious, each one makes up their own belief system!

http://www.cougarboard.com/noframes/...tml?id=5480597

This guy might be the biggest idiot on CB, that's quite the distinction.

Wow, what is an "Ann Frank" type Jew? I never fail to be let down by the human race.

[kccougar]

That's almost as bad as when our managing partner sent hams to all the employees, including the Jewish ones (even his Jewish partner).

Fortunately, they all thought it was funny, and they all eat ham, anyway.

My 11-yr old still thinks it's weird when pork recipes call for kosher salt.

[Jarid in Cedar]

My 11-yr old still thinks it's weird when pork recipes call for kosher salt.

[SuperGabers]

I get so worn out on the whole Jewish/Christmas thing... Just celebrate with us. What is the big effing deal? It is like being invited to a birthday party, but choosing not to attend because it isn't your birthday.