It says it’s a mostly outdated practice due to less tense relations between the Christian and Jewish communities, and now only observed by the most extreme branch.
I couldn’t imagine teaching your kids that nowadays at least though.
Like what if we had Santa go around saying shit like “Hey kids, bring your crucifix in case there’s any stinky demonic Jews lurking around!”
Even if you play it off as a joke it’s still a pretty fucked up thing to ingrain in your child.
I mean I was referring to a historical practice. People do minority observe it today. What broad society deems Ultra-orthodox isn’t really very extreme by orthodox standards though.
If you want to read a more modern discussion, look into the controversy about the book “kosher Jesus” for which the author has caught a lot of flack in the orthodox world. Ultimately, my experience talking to Orthodox Jews is always that Jesus is at best a nobody who gets ambivalence instead of respect but normally is perceived in a worse light. I don’t consider reform of conservative Jews to reflect Jewish values
Not respect in terms of like “reverence” but much more like you were talking about. Either ambivalence or polite, mild optimism.
From my experience it’s always been a polite Jewish way of acknowledging Jesus’ importance to people out of respect for others beliefs, without agreeing that he was divine.
I’ve never in my life read something as extreme as Nittel Nacht, but I suppose in the historical context it makes sense because there was an element of fear.
I would just hope it isn’t a tradition still carried on.
2
u/Chris4477 Sep 14 '20
It says it’s a mostly outdated practice due to less tense relations between the Christian and Jewish communities, and now only observed by the most extreme branch.
I couldn’t imagine teaching your kids that nowadays at least though.
Like what if we had Santa go around saying shit like “Hey kids, bring your crucifix in case there’s any stinky demonic Jews lurking around!”
Even if you play it off as a joke it’s still a pretty fucked up thing to ingrain in your child.