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Has Chanukah Become an Overcommercialized Holiday?
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The Nachim Segal Network GM Miriam Wallach argues many holidays have become 'Hallmark'' holidays.
- Duration 4:07
- Date Dec 21, 2012
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The Nachim Segal Network GM Miriam Wallach argues many holidays have become 'Hallmark'' holidays.
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Possible not as a tumble for you.
The price of a barrel of ago oil is down I don't know and now it's down just just -- -- 83 but he -- 88 dollars a barrel.
On Christmas next week many people will celebrate -- religious significance the birth of Jesus the many others will just get together and exchange gifts for them.
Christmas is what -- Michael light commercial festival an excuse to buy.
And it's not just Christians for the Jewish community question has Chanukah become just eight -- a present giving.
Joining us now with Miriam walker from the in the Menachem -- -- knock on the -- that -- perfect -- -- -- it -- got it.
Totally dead on on his my premise right that the eight nights upon -- become something of a commercial festival.
I think it's no different unfortunately and it's not specific to a religion -- started by saying that I think it's no different than a lot of things -- in this country which have become completely commercialized.
Look at Memorial Day it's about barbecues and it's about white cells at Macy's and it's unfortunate you look at what happens in other countries and that's not the way to celebrate.
We have to make sure that the holiday is that we're celebrating don't become hallmark holiday that.
I'm with you but my point would be that these holidays whether it's Christmas Chanukah or anything else have become more and more and more commercial.
And religious holidays -- less and less religious for many people.
We live in a society where people are always looking for the bigger better deal for what's next when I can get my new -- -- When the iPhone 5 is going to be better than the four when the -- -- many trumps everything else.
Kids are no longer satisfied with you know the pair of socks that I was giving them at one point with a pair of pajamas with a nice book.
Everything has become bigger and that's part of the society that we live -- -- nothing wrong with giving gifts that -- -- -- it.
See it understood and tradition but where -- gift giving takes precedence over everything.
And the religious significance of the holiday it recedes very much into the background and I think -- is happening and I don't necessarily approve of that.
How about you.
Well -- not our job as parents -- make -- that when we give a gift or when we have a holiday that the tradition is what and the tradition in the value is what we are passing on because at the end of today.
Not passing on my iPad to my grandchildren what the values in the tradition and on and yes I get a -- taking candy when I'm older so back.
See you as a mother -- you can tell and I'm pushing you are again yes -- do you what do you not approve of the increasing commercialization.
Of a public America and it's written and religious -- of.
Of course not how many people comments that without the -- -- Budweiser commercial they don't remember that it's Christmas how many people comments.
That with Alex you know the polar bear on the Coca-Cola can't that they don't know what's -- the season.
It's a sad reality it's our responsibility that we as we are giving gifts which again -- numerous things and our world.
Are about gift giving and there's nothing wrong with that as long as it is -- With value with tradition with appropriate sentiment and we have to always remember that the gift is not be the the essence of everything.
I am told that Chanukah was not a little known holiday with a little celebrate that whole holiday many years ago a couple of generations ago.
But he became much more celebratory.
Much -- gift giving.
To get in line with Christians who have giving a whole -- in December and that was all kinds of ads for consumer items in December.
Did Jewish people catch up with the Christians in gift giving and commercialism.
Our number there's numerous recent that actually two different articles that are out now to show.
That post the Holocaust post World War II when Jews were looking for an identity that wasn't associated with massacre with the death of six million ages.
That they were looking at the bigger picture and people were looking to associate and be proud.
And so a movement was made.
To extend an audience.
To lack of better -- market -- as something bigger than what it's intended to be you know.
-- and that's like reality a U reaching Chinese food and go to a movie on the -- I'm not I'm actually going to work.
With the opportunity meet people who are also off and are able to sell -- skipping the Chinese that I had to -- -- -- -- -- Jewish tradition is it not pressing on the minds of people do is they Jewish tradition is that and it.
Thank you -- -- up.