I’m not Jewish, I don’t even play one on TV, but I got used to being around Jews during their holidays. For six+ years, I cleaned houses almost exclusively for Jews and so wound up helping serve all the big meals on the various Holy Days, shivas, etc. To be honest, I miss it. Good food, big and loud and loving families furthering tradition, the whole kit and kaboodle. I’ve been out of the biz for 2 years now.
Soooo, last weekend was Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Some of the people I work with over the phone (haven’t met in person, they’re hundreds of miles away) are Jewish, and I wished 2 of them a Shana Tova last Friday. One of them asked if I was Jewish, and to be fair my name could pass as Jewish if one didn’t know me. When I said I wasn’t he sounded confused and commented he was surprised I’d say that if I wasn’t. I didn’t respond, he said thank you, I said you’re welcome, we hung up.
What’s the big whup? You wish people a Happy Birthday on **their ** birthday, not yours, right? Still, if I’m wrong or being insulting, I wanna know so I don’t keep looking foolish. I do enough of that knowingly.
Whaddya think?
I think you did the right thing. The guy was just startled at being wished a happy holiday by a goy. The overwhelming majority of non-Jews have no idea when Jewish holidays are, or the right greeting for them.
I agree. I certainly wouldn’t be insulted if a non-Jew wished me a happy holiday on any Jewish holiday. If any Jew did take umbrage at that, I’d think it was very odd. I would be surprised, though, if a non-Jew said the right greeting for the holiday (and in Hebrew, no less). Not offended, but surprised.
I should also add that I wish people who I know to be Christian Merry Christmas or Happy Easter at the appropriate times.
I’d be surprised, particularly that you made your greetings in Hebrew rather than ‘Happy New Year’ or something like that, but I wouldn’t have a problem with it. When you’re part of a small minority, you just don’t expect people to know details like that.
A few years ago I started a thread on what the proper holiday greeting is for Ramadan, as it didn’t seem like ‘Merry Ramadan’ was exactly what was called for. (Apparently, it’s ‘Ramadan Mubarak.’)
No problem at all – I’m surprised it was an issue at all. I wish and get wished all kinds of Happy Holidays wishes all the time – to and from non-Jews. I and everyone I have ever greeted for their holidays were perfectly pleased with it. Always.
Maybe the guy was just surprised you knew about Rosh HaShana?
Perfectly fine in my book - I regularly wish religious people happy Christmas, Easter, Hannuka, Rosh Hashana, Songkhran, Diwali, Holi, and Eid.
Thank you all for the comforting replies! And the new information on the Ramadan greeting.
I am not offended when someone who is not a christian wishes me a Merry Christmas (OK, not a perfect analogy as I’m agnostic, but I was raised in the christian traditions.)
I personally don’t think it is wrong.
I also believe it was surprise, not offence.
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A slightly relevant story: My Hebrew name is hard for N. Americans to pronounce. Hence, with time, I have learned to present myself to Americans (and Canadians) using a somewhat modified pronunciation of my name, which they find easier to get.
About a year ago I phoned a business contact from the states for the first time, and introduced myself. The conversation went something like:
Me: Good morning. My name is <American style name>, and I’m from <nevermind> in Israel.
Him: Good morning. But isn’t your name <proper pronunciation>?
Me: Gasp
I turned out his son has an Israeli friend who shares my name, so he learned the proper way to pronounce it. I was surprised, but defiantly not offended.
[/hijack]
I don’t see any problem… heck, I’ve even wished American friends a “Happy Father’s Day in Spain” and a Muslim friend called Joe a “Happy St Joseph’s” - which is kind of the opposite, saying “hey, I’m having a holiday today that applies to you even if it’s not your holiday!”
At least 10 of my non-Jewish colleagues and students have wished me happy new year. I find it very moving.
I’ve gotten that, but in reverse; my first name is a common Hebrew or Russian name, and I’ve had people of both nationalities tell me I’m saying it ‘wrong’. I get a little miffed and tell them I’m saying it the way I’ve been taught by the woman who gave it to me!