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Christopher Ickens on Chanuka


I don’t know who Christopher Hitchens knows or why he would feel this way, but what a strange interpretation of Chanuka.  I can promise you, it’s got no resemblance to my experience of the holiday, or what we give our kids as an experience.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:18 pm December 3rd, 2007 in Culture, Jewish, Judaism, Media, Writing 

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13 Responses to “Christopher Ickens on Chanuka”

  1. 1 Anon on December 4th, 2007 1:16 am

    From the bottom of the page to which you linked: “Christopher Hitchens is [...] the author of God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.”

    And he’s not just talking about Judaism. ‘Nuf said.

  2. 2 Jeff Hess on December 4th, 2007 7:27 am

    Shalom Jill,

    Apropos of my quote from the Talmud yesterday, the Zimon family is sadly in a distinct and tiny minority when it comes to reasoned and learned understanding and expression of their Judaism.

    I wish it were not so, but Hitchens represents a growing and correct opposition to the mouthing of mindless imagery and catchphrases intended to fuel consumerism.

    That so many Jews exchange gifts at all at Chanuka is an indicator that we have lost this particular battle.

    B’shalom,

    Jeff

  3. 3 MY COMMENTS… on December 4th, 2007 7:32 am

    [...] Christopher Ickens on Chanuka digg_url=”http://havecoffeewillwrite.com/?p=5770″; digg_skin = [...]

  4. 4 Jill Miller Zimon on December 4th, 2007 11:30 am

    Oh – I know re: Hitchens and his views of religion. I just think he could put himself to such better use. Why – why bother bashing this stuff? I don’t know – it makes little sense to me – the feelings about it: valid. But the writing about it? I don’t know. Then again – I’m a blogger – who am I to say what people should or shouldn’t write about!!

  5. 5 Jill Miller Zimon on December 4th, 2007 11:32 am

    Well Jeff – as you know – we aren’t in as small a minority as we would like to be – we are lighting candles, making latkes and yes, playing dreidel with gelt and giving presents. We’ve really de-emphasized the presents over the years, but even when they were younger, it was more the out of town relatives who went to town. Now – we reserve at least two or three nights for basically no gifts but rather acts or deeds. And as the kids get older, we work more of that in.

    But yeah – I kind of like the gift-giving excuse. There – I’ve said it! :)

  6. 6 Joe Amschlinger on December 4th, 2007 12:00 pm

    Hitchens is an interesting and engaging writer. I worry about sweeping generalizations made by him though that all religious people are mindless fools. Anytime you blast or place upon a pedestal a people based on a category such as race, religiosity, gender,or ethnicity it is a cause for concern. With one exception: Lawyers, all lawyers = bad. We all know that! KIDDING!!! ;)

  7. 7 Jill Miller Zimon on December 4th, 2007 2:10 pm

    Trust me, Joe – you don’t have to tell me that. ;)

  8. 8 John Ettorre on December 4th, 2007 10:48 pm

    Poor Hitchens. You have to feel sorry for the guy. So much talent, but so much anger and hatred too. He loves being the contrarian bad boy, roasting the most surprising subjects he can think of, like Mother Theresa. Now he wants to take on every major faith and people of faith. Good luck, Chris. That’s a bit more than even you can handle. But I always try to cut him a break, reminding myself that he suffered the ultimate trauma–his mom committing suicide. Something he has in common with Karl Rove, interestingly enough.

  9. 9 Jill Miller Zimon on December 4th, 2007 10:53 pm

    I love his writing – the passion and rawness of it – it’s visceral (can something BE visceral or do you have to say “it’s visceral quality?).

    But it also just sounds like a rage – what does it do? Does it really convince anyone of anything? It’s got so many conclusory phrases in it.

    Sigh. What do I know. I’m certainly not him.

  10. 10 John Ettorre on December 5th, 2007 9:27 am

    I think you’ve nicely put your finger on why for so many serious readers, his writing simultaneously repels and attracts.

  11. 11 Jill Miller Zimon on December 5th, 2007 10:43 am

    Not a bad combo I guess for some of us? lol

  12. 12 Anon on December 5th, 2007 4:14 pm

    Here is one response to Hitchen’s essay. A short extract:

    Among the normal, everyday Jews I live with, the somewhat reductivist view of this [Hannukah] holiday, like most, can be expressed as: They tried to kill us. We won. Let’s eat.

    On the topic of Hannukah comestibles, here is a collection of pictures that I found really funny (YMMV).

  13. 13 Jill Miller Zimon on December 5th, 2007 4:30 pm

    OMG!!!! That is HYSTERICAL! ROFL! Wow – I might have to post that. Oh my Gawd. lol

    At least the grocer almost spells Chanukah the same way I do – I don’t use the h at the end.

    Wow. That is going to be in my mind for a long time, that photo. lol

    That “killed us, we won, let’s eat” thing – yes indeed – very popular.

    And applicable to so many Jewish events! :) (that’s a kidding thing, though it does seem to work for Purim and Passover too)

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