Maggie's Farm

From Bruce Kesler:

In light of how the language of Jews has entered common usage in America:

During the first day of Hanukkah, two elderly Jewish men were sitting in a wonderful deli frequented almost exclusively by Jews in New York City. They were talking amongst themselves in Yiddish - the colorful language of Jews who came over from Eastern Europe

A Chinese waiter, only one year in New York, came up and in fluent impeccable Yiddish asked them if everything was okay and if they were enjoying the holiday.

The Jewish men were dumbfounded. “Where did he ever learn such perfect Yiddish?” they both thought. After they paid the bill they asked the restaurant manager, an old friend of theirs, “Where did our waiter learn such fabulous Yiddish?”

The manager looked around and leaned in so no one else will hear and said... “Shhhh. He thinks we're teaching him English.”

When in Israel, I told a variation of this joke to my host.  He, then, invited me to meet him for lunch the next day at the members’ club of the Tel Aviv diamond exchange.  The maitre d’ was a 6-foot tall Chinese man, who spoke in Hebrew, he being the husband of a Jewish woman diamond merchant who’d met him at the Hong Kong diamond exchange.  Israel, like the US, is a population drawn from around the world, initially speaking a polyglot of languages, but adopting a common language and culture. 

My hardworking Yiddish speaking immigrant grandparents owned a tailor store in downtown Brooklyn.  Their presser for several decades was a Black man who spoke Yiddish to the customers.  When I was a small child, he always had time for me.  I learned as much Yiddish from him as from my grandparents.  Famous books by Leo Rosten, The Joys of Yiddish and The Joys of Yinglish, are hundreds of pages of words that many non-Jewish Americans use or hear frequently and are chock full of definitions and jokes.

A measure of the contribution to America by various ethnic groups is the degree to which its language and culture enters common usage.  There are about as many Moslems in the US as Jews, yet sadly the only Islamic word most in the US have come to know is “jihad.”

In my view, it is best to consider all knowledge as tentative. The best scholars maintain an open-mindedness and humility about even their own core beliefs.

Greg Mankiw

Thanks for all the kind words from our visitors over the past week or so. Your appreciation is our reward - along with our own pleasure and education.

From our guest poster Bruce Kesler:

In light of the contributions of Jews to Christian celebrations of Christmas, two songs that never caught on:

-         Deck the Halls with Balls of Matzos

-         Jumpin’ around the Chanukah Bush

Some famous Christmas songs written by Jews:

White Christmas

Christmas Song

We Need A Little Christmas

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree

A Holly Jolly Christmas

The Christmas Waltz

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Silver Bells

I’m Getting Nuttin’ For Christmas

Santa Baby

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Sleigh Ride

I’ll Be Home For Christmas

It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

There’s No Place Like Home For The Holidays

Do They Know It’s Christmas (Feed The World)

The United States is the shining light on the hill to all who care for freedom and the land that has given generations of Jewish and other immigrants and refugees the sanctuary and liberties from which they’ve been allowed to heavily contribute back for the benefit of all.

Photo: Ellis Island Menorah from Levine

"Rediscovering the warmth, simplicity, amity and solidarity which are the very values of Christmas"

Luke 2:1-20

 1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2 And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Fra Angelico and Fra Filippo Lippi, The Adoration of the Magi, c. 1440-1460

The imperial, Baths of Caracalla-like DC setting bugs me, but not Il Divo:

Wanted to squeeze these links in before I begin my Christmas shopping.  Maybe I will just pickpocket somebody's wallet and head for the jewelry store with their American Express card so I can finish up before church at 5. Heck, everybody I know would appreciate trinkets like Cartier watches or some diamonds.

Somebody needs to remind me to take the day off on Christmas Eve next year.

We'll only have pre-posted stuff 'til Friday.

Microwave oven Christmas song.

Why Santa wears red and other Christmas facts.

Grinch du jour

The Afghanistan slog, and the glorification of the Taliban. Jules

What a joke: Objecting to Rick Warren. He's the Billy Graham of our time.

What a joke: Merry Christmas from Ahmadinejad. I'm sure it will be da bomb.

What a joke. Caroline Kennedy:

"I have, you know, quite a lot to learn, but I feel like I bring a lot with me, as well," she said. "This is a time when nobody can afford to sit out. And I hope that I have something to offer."

Ah, the smell of noblesse oblige in the afternoon. I don't want no noblesse oblige from nobody. She wants to do the "job" for me! I'd rather see any one of 30 bloggers I know in the job. And they've all done more with their lives, too. Theo would of course be my first pick for the seat and he would enjoy it the most because Senators are chick magnets in the Georgetown pubs - but he's a Brit.

Related, via Insty:

JOURNALISM: Times City Room Will Not Mention Caroline Kennedy’s Special Friendship With Pinch Sulzberger.

Maybe that explains where the "Schlossberg" in her name went to. From Eurotrash to Lefty propagandist. Nice evolution.

Related: Resistance to Caroline grows.

No, I do not dislike the lady. Why would I? I am sure she and Pinch make a charming couple. I just think this political family stuff is ridiculous: how many generations before somebody gets a real job and learns about real life and about how business works? Same for Bush Jr, although he did pay his dues in the private sector.

In light of how infectious is the ignorance and coveting with which we make excuses and create hate:

It was two days before Chanukah and Mr. Feldman, quite downcast, was trudging home. "Where will I get money to buy presents for the holiday?" he asked himself sadly, thinking of his wife and children. On the way, he passed a church, in front of which was a sign: Five Hundred Dollars Cash To Anyone Who Joins This Church Today!

Here was the solution to Feldman's problem! He went in, joined, and was given the five hundred dollars as the sign promised. That evening, at supper, he told his family how he had come by his sudden wealth. "And here's the money," he announced grandly, waving the money before them.

"Darling," said his wife, "you remember that coat you promised me three years ago? Well it's on sale at Macy's."

"How much is it?"

"Only a two hundred and fifty dollars, and it's worth at least three hundred and fifty."

Feldman peeled off five fifties and gave them to her. The son spoke up. "Pop, for a long time I've been saving up to buy one of those cool mountain bikes. I already have most of the money, but I need a little more."

"How much more?"

"One hundred and fifty dollars."

Feldman handed over the money.

"Daddy," said his teen age daughter, "next week our school is having the most important dance of the whole year. If I don't have a new dress,

I'll simply die."

"Don't die Sweetheart. How much is the dress?"

"Only a hundred dollars, Daddy dear."

Feldman handed over the remaining twenty five dollars, leaned back and grinned. "It never fails," he announced. "The minute we Gentiles have a little money, you Jews take it away from us!"

A self-absorbed child takes from others, as do adults who haven’t matured.  Instead, all our holy days are common gifts to be shared for their giving of appreciation for the blessings that enrich our lives and society.  

My Chipmunks seem to be doing their sleep thing (they do not hibernate, they just curl up and snooze when it's cold out) because I have not seen them for a while.

Long Vs of Canada Geese have been honking high overhead all week, heading south, fleeing the snow cover in search of open fields for grazing. It's a sight and sound to lift anybody's spirits.

All we have at the bird feeders now are White Throated Sparrows, Juncoes, Mourning Doves, Cardinals, Black-capped Chickadees, and Blue Jays. Kinda dull at the bird welfare office here, but we are always glad to help out at Christmastime. I did see one shivering Mockingbird. Where are the Goldfinches and all of the interesting sparrows? Even our semi-tough Carolina Wrens seem to have taken a hike south.

I think they are all fleeing global cooling and sitting on lawn chairs in patios in Key West, sipping Rum Punches.

If they weren't bird-brains, they would stay there.

The proverbial expression has nothing to do with Advent. Here's Wiki:

The Dog in the Manger is a fable attributed to Aesop, concerning a dog who one afternoon lay down to sleep in the manger. On being awoken, he ferociously kept the cattle in the farm from eating the hay on which he chose to sleep, even though he was unable to eat it himself, leading an ox to mutter the moral of the fable:

People often begrudge others what they cannot enjoy themselves.

The third in Bruce Kesler's Hannukah series for us:

.

In light of how artificial barriers among us create unnecessary divisions:

A woman goes to the post office to buy stamps for her Chanukah cards.
She says to the clerk, "May I have 50 Chanukah stamps?"
The clerk says, "What denomination?"
The woman says, "Oh my God. Has it come to this? Give me 6 Orthodox, 12 Conservative, and 32 Reform."

My son’s Cub Scout subject for December is Holiday Lights.  In discussion with the 8-year olds, all of whom attend their church or synagogue’s training, it was a surprise to them that the Holy Temple in Jerusalem that the Maccabees freed and sanctified is the same that about 150-years later Mary and Joseph brought Jesus.  How can we defend or explain our common heritage when we either don’t understand it ourselves or make the efforts to even explain it to our children?

Photo: A Menorah in the Hoboken City Hall, 2007

Chanukah's Da Bomb:

A gloomy Steven Moore on the economy (h/t, Driscoll)

That's salmon fishing on Cain's River, New Brunswick, in October.

From Bruce Kesler:

In light of why most holiday celebrations are directed toward children:

In recent years, Christmas has become more and more commercialized. The same holds true for Chanukah, even though it is a minor holiday. It makes sense. How could we market a major holiday such as Yom Kippur? Forget about celebrating. Think observing. Come to synagogue, starve yourself for 27 hours, become one with your dehydrated soul, beat your chest, confess your sins, a guaranteed good time for you and your family. Tickets a mere $200 per person.
Better stick with Chanukah!

Purists decry the commercialization and simplification of holy days.  But, few among us have the interest or training to delve into the deeper meanings.  Religions have found that stressing a central theme or lesson accomplishes most, and making it enjoyable transmits the core meaning to children they can build upon and enlarge.  The central theme of Chanukah and of Christmas is that devotion to our faith takes courage that can overcome even hostile empires.

Regular readers know that, here at Maggie's, we hold individual freedom from the power of the State as the highest political value.

We figger that's why we had a revolution.

Other countries seem to rate other values more highly, and seem more willing to put their lives in the oily, arrogant, and mediocrity-ridden hands of the political and power classes - as plenty of Americans seem to be willing to do these days. That's fine for those other nations if that's what they want, but we are meant to be special in the freedom way - and an example for others to follow if they can. Two quotes from Freedom Imperilled at The New Criterion:

How is freedom faring in the United States today? Peter Robinson, a scholar at the Hoover Institution at Stanford, provided a melancholy précis in “The Loss of Individual Liberty,” a column that appeared in Forbes last month. Mr. Robinson recalled a dinner he shared with Milton Friedman several years ago. He complimented the venerable economist on his role in transforming the intellectual landscape, especially in fostering widespread appreciation of the inextricable connection between free markets and individual liberty. Friedman refused the compliment. “We may have won the intellectual battle,” he said, “but in practical politics, it’s difficult to see that we’ve had any effect at all.” Even a few years ago, it would have been easy to react as did Mr. Robinson at the time: to think that Friedman was responding with false modesty. After all, had not the power of the free market been demonstrated beyond cavil in America’s triumph over the Soviet Union, its unparalleled prosperity, its culture of political freedom?

and

As Hume saw, it is generally not lost all at once, but step by step: government program by government program, regulation by regulation, entitlement by entitlement, until finally, as Tocqueville put it, we find ourselves “nothing more than a herd of timid and industrious animals of which the government is the shepherd.”

There are people who strictly deprive themselves of each and every eatable, drinkable, and smokable which has in any way acquired a shady reputation. They pay this price for health. And health is all they get for it. How strange it is. It is like paying out your whole fortune for a cow that has gone dry.

Mark Twain, quoted at AVI

Those are today's temps via Surber. 

Skeptical about the warming crisis? Then sign the Big List for posterity.

Posterity will thank you.

at Dust My Broom.

Have a beer and a praline with 'em.

h/t, Right Wing Prof