Yes, I like the Hanukkah armadillo episode too. Now as far as Monica and being Jewish is concerned, if you notice in later episodes she is wearing a cross. So either they decided to make the parents a mixed marriage or the actress didn't like being thought of as Jewish (even though her exhusband is Jewish).
And yes children are really drawn to Christmas. And why wouldn't they be? When my younger son was 7 years old, I went to the local gourmet store and bought him a cookie in the shape of a Christmas tree. Just something fun so he wouldn't feel totally left out. But when I told him what I had bought for him, he only heard the words Christmas tree and was very excited.
"You bought a Christmas tree!"
I told him that I bought a cookie not a Christmas tree.
Without missing a beat, his response was, "well I can have a tree, I'm half christian." (No he is not)
"No, you are not," I responded. And there was a general look of disappointment on his face. But he did get his cookie.
Apparently, alot of his friends at school were from mixed marriages so they have both Christmas and Hanukkah and he decided he would try his luck.
It's not easy being a Jewish child during December.
So appreciative of this comment and also you helping me keep with the cookie theme!! My kiddo is six and really struggling, but like Ross, I am hoping to appease him with Hanukkah presents (and piles and piles of latkes, which he loves very much).
Presents, latkes, sufganiyote definitely does the trick. Just as an FYI, that little boy who wanted a Christmas tree is a grown man who proudly wears a Star of David around his neck and helps me light Shabbat candles every week. We show them how proud we are and it rubs off. Promise.
Thanks, EKB. Great comments. I never noticed Monica's cross.
Creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman--Jewish. David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow--Jewish. I'm guessing a number of the writers were Jewish. So how could Friends be so tone-deaf about Judaism and its customs?
I guess for me, I was just happy to see so many Jewish actors, male and female, and, like everyone else, I was drawn to the ensemble. Apply a critical eye, and it's a bit disappointing. But Ross as an armadillo? How can that not be funny?
Compared the Judaism-free Seinfeld with its completely Jewish zeitgeist, and Friends looks a lot better.
As an older person who barely saw ANYTHING even remotely "Jewish" on TV for most of my long life (unless the program had something to do with the Holocaust), I, too, like "The One with the Hanukkah Armadillo" episode of "Friends, despite its "flaws".
When I was a child (last mid-Century!), my few Jewish friends and I were constantly "taunted to TEARS" from Thanksgiving onward by our non-Jewish peers, "jeering" at us that Santa wasn't bringing us anything for Christmas (which of COURSE ~ as Jews ~ we did not celebrate!) because we were "bad & naughty" little children. At the ages of 4 thru 7 or 8, or so, and as a REALLY GOOD, WELL-BEHAVED little girl, that REALLY HURT!
Seeing (and feeling) my upset, distress, and pain, my WONDERFUL mom devised a new-to-us "take" on the Christmas holiday: "Toys for Jewish Children", which the traditional, red-suited "Santa" brought for me, and eventually my "little sister", too, filling our largest stockings with great "stuff" every Christmas morning, in addition to the toys, clothing, gelt, etc. we received for Chanukah. At those "tender" ages of "belief", thanks to our mother, we both had an effective, targeted retort to the nasty & very hurtful teasing to which we were subjected; thus, neither of us felt left out of the secular festivities of Christmas.
Hubby & I carried on this tradition Mother had begun with our two sons, when they were young, too, with great, "positive" effects. This Wednesday, Hubby & I will be celebrating both the first night of Chanukah and (a secular) Christmas morning of "Toys for Jewish Children" with our almost 3 year-old granddaughter at our younger son & DIL's house. Our son told us this morning that, later that day (in addition to our "Latke & Homemade Pizza Party", he will be airing that "Friends Holiday Armadillo" episode from HIS childhood "Just Because"!
Wishing a very Happy Chanukah & "Merry Holidays" to All! ~
Yes, I like the Hanukkah armadillo episode too. Now as far as Monica and being Jewish is concerned, if you notice in later episodes she is wearing a cross. So either they decided to make the parents a mixed marriage or the actress didn't like being thought of as Jewish (even though her exhusband is Jewish).
And yes children are really drawn to Christmas. And why wouldn't they be? When my younger son was 7 years old, I went to the local gourmet store and bought him a cookie in the shape of a Christmas tree. Just something fun so he wouldn't feel totally left out. But when I told him what I had bought for him, he only heard the words Christmas tree and was very excited.
"You bought a Christmas tree!"
I told him that I bought a cookie not a Christmas tree.
Without missing a beat, his response was, "well I can have a tree, I'm half christian." (No he is not)
"No, you are not," I responded. And there was a general look of disappointment on his face. But he did get his cookie.
Apparently, alot of his friends at school were from mixed marriages so they have both Christmas and Hanukkah and he decided he would try his luck.
It's not easy being a Jewish child during December.
So appreciative of this comment and also you helping me keep with the cookie theme!! My kiddo is six and really struggling, but like Ross, I am hoping to appease him with Hanukkah presents (and piles and piles of latkes, which he loves very much).
Presents, latkes, sufganiyote definitely does the trick. Just as an FYI, that little boy who wanted a Christmas tree is a grown man who proudly wears a Star of David around his neck and helps me light Shabbat candles every week. We show them how proud we are and it rubs off. Promise.
“It's not easy being a Jewish child during December.”
💯.
Thanks, EKB. Great comments. I never noticed Monica's cross.
Creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman--Jewish. David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow--Jewish. I'm guessing a number of the writers were Jewish. So how could Friends be so tone-deaf about Judaism and its customs?
I guess for me, I was just happy to see so many Jewish actors, male and female, and, like everyone else, I was drawn to the ensemble. Apply a critical eye, and it's a bit disappointing. But Ross as an armadillo? How can that not be funny?
Compared the Judaism-free Seinfeld with its completely Jewish zeitgeist, and Friends looks a lot better.
As an older person who barely saw ANYTHING even remotely "Jewish" on TV for most of my long life (unless the program had something to do with the Holocaust), I, too, like "The One with the Hanukkah Armadillo" episode of "Friends, despite its "flaws".
When I was a child (last mid-Century!), my few Jewish friends and I were constantly "taunted to TEARS" from Thanksgiving onward by our non-Jewish peers, "jeering" at us that Santa wasn't bringing us anything for Christmas (which of COURSE ~ as Jews ~ we did not celebrate!) because we were "bad & naughty" little children. At the ages of 4 thru 7 or 8, or so, and as a REALLY GOOD, WELL-BEHAVED little girl, that REALLY HURT!
Seeing (and feeling) my upset, distress, and pain, my WONDERFUL mom devised a new-to-us "take" on the Christmas holiday: "Toys for Jewish Children", which the traditional, red-suited "Santa" brought for me, and eventually my "little sister", too, filling our largest stockings with great "stuff" every Christmas morning, in addition to the toys, clothing, gelt, etc. we received for Chanukah. At those "tender" ages of "belief", thanks to our mother, we both had an effective, targeted retort to the nasty & very hurtful teasing to which we were subjected; thus, neither of us felt left out of the secular festivities of Christmas.
Hubby & I carried on this tradition Mother had begun with our two sons, when they were young, too, with great, "positive" effects. This Wednesday, Hubby & I will be celebrating both the first night of Chanukah and (a secular) Christmas morning of "Toys for Jewish Children" with our almost 3 year-old granddaughter at our younger son & DIL's house. Our son told us this morning that, later that day (in addition to our "Latke & Homemade Pizza Party", he will be airing that "Friends Holiday Armadillo" episode from HIS childhood "Just Because"!
Wishing a very Happy Chanukah & "Merry Holidays" to All! ~
Cheryl in NJ