Ep. 14: Should We Set Limits to How Jews Participate in Non-Jewish Holidays Like Thanksgiving?

What happens when two rabbis admit they don't really like Thanksgiving—and one confesses he grew up celebrating Christmas with a tree and milk for Santa? In this eye-opening episode of “In Such a Time: Conversations on Jewish Life, Leadership and Meaning,” Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe and Rabbi Leora Londy get candid about navigating non-Jewish holidays as Jewish Americans. Get ready for surprising personal stories, moments of humor, and the tough questions faced by modern Jewish families as they balance tradition, assimilation, and the lure (or loathing) of turkey and tinsel.From volunteering at homeless shelters in lieu of turkey dinner, to longing for forbidden Halloween costumes, to the boundaries (and blurry lines) around Christmas trees, this week’s conversation is a heartfelt exploration of what it means to observe—or opt out of—American holidays through a Jewish lens. The hosts dissect where they draw the line between participating in broader cultural moments and holding fast to religious identity, sharing their own family compromises (think: Tofurky and Shabbat trick-or-treating) and how those decisions impact their children.Key Highlights:Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe’s confessions about celebrating both Hanukkah and Christmas as a child—and his take on why Thanksgiving food really isn’t that great.Rabbi Leora Londy’s reflections on volunteering during Thanksgiving and the tension of assimilating while protecting Jewish particularism.Honest dialogue about the "slippery slope" of participating in non-Jewish holidays and the challenge of setting (and justifying) family boundaries.The fascinating story of Russian-Jewish New Year tree traditions (“Novigod”) in Israel, and the reasons we cling to childhood rituals.Advice for navigating questions from congregants about celebrating Christmas, plus a bit of classic Jewish parental guilt for good measure.This episode will challenge your assumptions, make you laugh, and inspire you to think about your own family’s practices in a whole new way.Timestamped Overview:00:00:00 – Intro Announcer sets the stage for this week’s discussion on Jewish life and non-Jewish holidays.00:00:20 –Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe and Rabbi Leora Londy compare their vastly different upbringings around Thanksgiving and other “American” holidays.00:03:43 – The rabbis explore what it’s like to grow up NOT celebrating Halloween or Christmas, and how interfaith work shaped Rabbi Leora Londy’s exposure to other traditions.00:04:42 –Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe shares why he’s never loved Thanksgiving and offers a culinary hot take.00:06:00 – The emotional significance of celebrating Thanksgiving as an immigrant in Israel.00:09:29 – Where do families draw the line? Strategies for handling Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Christmas as Jewish parents.00:13:18 – The complexity of Jewish families celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah together, and the contradictions therein.00:18:48 – The discomfort with blurring boundaries between holidays, “Hanukkah bushes,” and Christian universalism.00:22:11 – How Halloween serves as a test case for American Jewish communities and their boundaries.00:26:44 – The surprise of Novigod “Christmas trees” in Israel and the power of cherished childhood traditions.00:35:02 – Advice for families: How to fill the void with Jewish joy, not just holiday “fixes.”00:38:29 – Outro and resources for further engagement.Whether you cherish your Thanksgiving feast or wonder how to talk to your kids about Christmas lights, this episode offers authentic, thoughtful, and sometimes hilarious insight into Jewish life today.