Christmas card ? for those who are Jewish

[Soupermom]

I have several former college roommates whom I keep in touch with and are Jewish. I would like to send them my Christmas card printed with family photos and a short note; I usually add a short personal message. Is it at all offensive to those who celebrate Hanukah to receive a card that sends Christmas Greetings with a personal note "hoping you had a wonderful Hanukah celebration and wishing you a blessed new year"? I know I wouldn't be offended if I received one saying Happy Hanukah, why not celebrate others' holidays? I celebrated many Passovers with my roommates. Anyway, I don't want to offend, so would anyone like to nicely share their opinion? Thanks. Happy Holidays!

 

[jrmasm]

If I were making a card that I knew I was going to send to people of different faiths, I wouldn't make it a Xmas card.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I wouldn't send Christmas cards to people who do not celebrate Christmas. I have sent Winter Wishes, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, etc cards to friends who are Jewish but not Christmas cards.

 

[meajuly5]

Wouldn't offend me to receive a card from someone celebrating their faith especially if it referenced what I celebrated. If someone is deeply religious, they may feel otherwise

 

[3smithboys]

I am Jewish, and if I received your printed card that you made with your family pictures on it and it said Merry Christmas on it I would NOT be offended at all! I would be thrilled to get it and that you thought enough to send it to me. I would never expect anyone to make an extra picture card for me that said Happy Hanukkah or Season's Greetings on it.. No way...

 

[design_mom]

I am not Jewish, so take this as you may.

I have two Jewish friends. One of them outright *asked* to be sent one of my Christmas cards (photo card with family) rather than a generic "season's greetings" type sentiment, because the Christmas card is more personal/has pictures, etc. I always write a personal note on it, like you suggested, telling her I hope she has/had a happy Hanukkah. She is the only non-Christmas celebrating friend on my list, so I don't feel bad about not making a generic card for everyone.

My other friend does not like Christmas. At all. She feels like it's shoved down her throat. She would not appreciate a Christmas card. But she also would not appreciate a "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays" card (Christmas cards in disguise). She dislikes Hanukkah cards, too, even if they're sent by other Jews. (Apparently, card-sending is not a traditional way to celebrate Hanukkah, so "Christmas" is even infiltrating that...) Anyway, I don't send her a card at all. Not because we don't like each other, but because that's what she prefers.

I don't think there's a single answer that would satisfy everyone. But you probably know your roommates pretty well. And they sound pretty easy-going about your religious differences if they invited you to celebrate Jewish things with them. So I'd probably feel comfortable sending the photo card with a personal note.

 

[PrincessJo]

I had a co-worker a few years ago who is Jewish. He would give me a Happy Hanukkah card and I would give him a Christmas card. No one was offended. It was a mutual respect.

We loved exchanging pictures

 

[delyrium]

I have several former college roommates whom I keep in touch with and are Jewish. I would like to send them my Christmas card printed with family photos and a short note; I usually add a short personal message. Is it at all offensive to those who celebrate Hanukah to receive a card that sends Christmas Greetings with a personal note "hoping you had a wonderful Hanukah celebration and wishing you a blessed new year"? I know I wouldn't be offended if I received one saying Happy Hanukah, why not celebrate others' holidays? I celebrated many Passovers with my roommates. Anyway, I don't want to offend, so would anyone like to nicely share their opinion? Thanks. Happy Holidays!

I would probably not pair the phrase Happy Hanukkah with blessed new year, since the Jewish year starts earlier in the fall, and any celebration of 2014 is going to be secular. I'm sure your friends would appreciate the card and sentiment, either way, though.

 

[SMD]

I'm also Jewish, and I don't mind getting preprinted cards with the family photo, because I know it went to everyone. But if the card has a bible verse or a quote about Jesus, I would prefer they just stuck their picture in a more generic card.

 

[frndshpcptn]

I am Jewish, and if I received your printed card that you made with your family pictures on it and it said Merry Christmas on it I would NOT be offended at all! I would be thrilled to get it and that you thought enough to send it to me. I would never expect anyone to make an extra picture card for me that said Happy Hanukkah or Season's Greetings on it.. No way...

Same here.

 

[donac]

I always send cards at Christmas to my Jewish friends but I usually pick up one pack that says Season's Greetings.

They love to see my holiday letter about the family so they want the card.

 

[clori]

I'm Jewish and wouldn't mind the card you described nor would I think anything about the New Year's comment. If the card has say a picture on a manger on it I may choose not to display it in my home. If your friends are orthodox they may prefer an a season's greeting or Hanukkah card. If I'm doing a mix of faiths I do stick with more wintery scenes.

 

[Jaime4004]

I'm not sure how anyone could be offended by any card with family photos. We're atheist and love any cards with family photos, christmas or not. We might roll our eyes a bit with the bible verse cards but still appreciate the thought. We send "happy holiday" type cards, mostly just to show off the kids. Everyone gets the same card, including DH's Jewish family. No complaints. And we receive Happy hanukkah cards from some of them.

 

[okeydokey]

When we get our photo cards printed, we print some with Merry Christmas on them and some with Happy Holidays. We address them as we need to depending on the recipient.

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

I grew up with a Jewish mother and a Lutheran father (called myself a Jewtheran and we got to celebrate both Hannukah AND Christmas.) When I met my dh, he was Lutheran and we decided to attend Lutheran church, get married in the church and raise our kids as Lutherans. We do Merry Christmas photo cards every year and that's what I send out - even to my Jewish relatives. They are not offended at all (and I've asked.) They just like seeing the photo cards. A few of them send me Hannukah cards and I don't find that offensive at all. YMMV.

 

[Cindy B]

If they are very Orthodox, they might get offended by it. They would also have an issue with the New Year comment, because Rosh Hashanah happened in September.

Some don't even like sending cards, or doing the more "Christmas" like things- such as cards, major gift giving, lights, etc. Whereas some families were having "candle parties", and major gifts.

I work in an Orthodox Jewish school and to see the realm of how each person celebrated Chanukah was so interesting. Some took it very close to Christmas like, and some (it just so happened the more observant families), didn't do gifts, had a small candle service that evening and that was it.

 

[TinkerBelled]

I echo everyone else. I'd be careful with certain orthodox Jews, but speaking as a secular Jew, I love getting Christmas cards. Like gifts, it's the thought that counts. Moreover, although I think it's probably safer to avoid New Years, I celebrate both a religious New Year (Rosh Hashanah) and a secular New Year (January 1).

You know these people best and can probably tell whether they'd be offended. In general, though, unless they're particularly frum, I doubt it would bother anyone.

 

[MooskaMinnie]

When we get our photo cards printed, we print some with Merry Christmas on them and some with Happy Holidays. We address them as we need to depending on the recipient.

This is what we do as well!

 

[aprilchem]

I send both my Jewish and Muslim friends Christmas cards (with our family pictures on them). They like them (I've asked) because they like seeing pictures of our kids. Our cards always include a Bible verse on them, but my non-Christian friends know that I don't try to convert people, so they're not offended by that either.

 

[Soupermom]

OP here. Thank you everyone for your thoughtful comments. My friends are not Orthodox and one celebrates both holidays because her husband is Christian. I have purchased/sent "generic" holiday cards in the past, but I cannot afford to print 2 different sets of cards this year and I was hoping my 2-3 Jewish friends would enjoy the mail, as I would. There are no bible verses, just a wish for a Merry Christmas and something about holiday blessings. I think I am good sending them out to my friends; I will wish them a happy 2014 instead of happy new year. I get that!

Thanks!