Letters to the Editor

This letter is associated with the following article:
Forget Christmakkah and Festivus. Our interfaith holiday involves a magical rooster who fills the children's pants with presents.
  • I agree with the Ph.D.

    Noxon's wife has it her way. She loathes not just Christmas as a Christian holiday and the story of a Christian savior, and not just the commercialized kitsch that surrounds it in this country (which I find quite universally loathsome), but also the most harmless, inclusive, secular family-oriented traditions related to it.

    Yet her Judaism is so precious to her, she needs her kids sent to Hebrew school and absorbing every bit of the traditional Jewish observances. I have a feeling if Mr. Noxon even said he'd go along to synagogue with the family but not wear the kippah (which is an indication of Jewish faith, after all), she would throw a tantrum like no other, even though he simply wished not to align with her religion rather than to express one of his own.

    If the author knew what he is getting into, he may have little choice but to continue to have a solely Jewish (not interfaith) family that he feels little involvement with, or to abandon the marriage altogether. Give the tone of the article, he is resigned to let the wife rule and be passive regarding faith and religion. But there is no question that she is being extremely unfair and controlling, as much as any evangelical Christian spouse.