Are any Jewish people bothered by the Nordstrom's Chanukah sweater?

Below is what the Christian wrote and the rest of us thought, “what is she talking about?” She is a friend of a friend of mine; not some media plant to rev up the store.

If it’s hateful, it’s not funny. If you haven’t been on the receiving end of that I doubt you would understand. The Jews have had their fill and it started with making fun of them. The EU wants to “label” their products and no one else’s. I think they’ve had and are still having their fill of “Christian love and charity” and in this case “funny.” Maybe not so Christian huh?

I have no idea what she is talking about regarding the EU? Do you?

https://medium.com/@parkermolloy/5-things-the-media-does-to-manufacture-outrage-ba79125e1262

Seriously, read that.

@johnpowell I absolutely believe the media is in on things like this, but look at what the friend of the friend of mine wrote posted right above your answer. She thinks it’s hateful. She actually did think there was something wrong with that sweater. She is a real friend, not just a Facebook friend. Lives in the Bible Belt. My experience in the Bible Belt is much of it is void of ethnic discussion and humor, especially in public.

I see a string of words that I understand but when arranged in that way they make no sense.

But I think the are are parroting the internet rage machine for pageviews. This is what happened when blogging went from typing about shit that is interesting to you to making it your day job.

This is why I have no ethical dilemma browsing with a adblocker and ghostery.

@johnpowell They very well might be parroting. Good point. It also makes me cringe a little when I consider all the “group think” going on, rather than individuals using their own brains.

Nordstrom’s showed poor taste (and lack of thought) because the sweaters could be seen – by people who wish to be offended – as insensitive.

That said, Nordstrom should not have backed down. Anyone can choose to be offended by anything, as we have seen over and over. This is getting ridiculous,

@elbanditoroso :: https://medium.com/@parkermolloy/5-things-the-media-does-to-manufacture-outrage-ba79125e1262

This article covers the bullshit outrage machine. Nobody cares about red cups but you need to make shit up for retweets.

I don’t get offended by sweaters; I get offended by governors who say they won’t even let a 5 year old Syrian orphan into my state. However, the sweater does play on the stereotypes of the Jewish American Princess being high maintenance so if someone is looking to take offense, they could.

We live in a stupid, stupid age.

Not yet reading all the comments in the thread, my first reaction was to the commercialization element of Hanukka sweaters akin to all the mostly gaudy Christmas sweaters we will soon see coming out of storage. Since I met my wife I have participated in celebrating all the Jewish holidays for 24 years now and the stark contrast to the subdued and revered nature of those holidays mostly focused on the families and friends and of course the food being served. The only decorations are the holiday plates, a Menorah, a Dreidle and Gelt. Compare that to the 15 boxes of Christmas decorations I have in the basement storage room.

Is this sweater an early sign that the Jewish holidays are turning the corner towards the gross and grandiose commercialization that has consumed and cannibalized the Christmas holiday traditions?

@Cruiser I know what you mean about Chanukah becoming more and more commercialized. I saw the change beginning about 15 years ago. I thought back then it would explode to full blown decorating and gift giving, but it still is not nearly as extreme as Christmas, except for some select families that really take it far. I don’t think a sweater amps it up too much. I like the idea of some stupid, ugly, campy, sweaters. I also like being able to buy Chanukah plates, blue napkins, less expensive menorahs that hold birthday candles, and other things that add to the holiday without too much work or hooplah. What I don’t like is increasing the gift giving to the point of ridiculousness. I don’t think that has happened, or it still hasn’t caught up to Christmas ferver.

Like an ugly sweater is destined to do, the world is unraveling, and somehow religion is always at the core of the cause.

I thought it was funny. On the right person it would be perfect. No big deal.

The sweater is a hoot. And I wish I’d heard about em in time to snatch up a bunch of the “offensive” ones for the Jewish women in our circle. As for the outrage and alleged racism, what can you do? Anyone with a lick of sense would instantly see the thing for what it is, a very funny, yet mild and harmless inside joke. Sure it’s a stereotype, but it’s in the category of something like “White folks can’t dance”

Maybe there should be a bring back the sweater campaign. The whole media mess would be a windfall for Nordstrom’s. They’d probably sell them all out in a day.

I bet they’re getting tons of requests for the things after all the publicity

Let’s not have any holidays at all. Every single one has become someone’s opportunity to complain. People can’t even agree on when “new year” is. Let’s go from year to year without marking any recurring occasions or pausing in the daily routine. Won’t that be nice?

The catch: let’s eliminate all holidays across all cultures. No one will mind having their age-old traditions and celebrations messed with, will they? After all, it’s all right to do it to some people’s.

@Jeruba

why not simply eliminate all religion and culture?

I’m not offended by the sweater. Sure, it’s ugly, but in a cute, whimsical way. I’m not fond of the whole “JAP” thing, although I know plenty of Jewish women who embrace it as a cultural joke and gentle teasing. If anyone wants to buy this deliberately-tacky piece of clothing and have fun with it at parties, that’s fine by me.

@elbanditoroso That would do it.

@Jeruba @elbanditoroso As I get older I want to do more of the traditions that mark the time of year whether they be religious or not. They can be something to look forward to, and looking forward is good for the soul I think. I would like to drop the whole gift giving aspect.

Well, Jesus. Just don’t buy the shirt and wear it!

I’m not Jewish, but I can’t see why people are up-in-arms about the Nordstrom jumper (or the Target shirt). People can get ‘offended’ by anything. I’d rather be offended by real problems, such as the one @janbb cited. I don’t think Nordstrom should have given in to their ‘offence’.

Seems like a lot of people nowadays have nothing better to do than to get offended by literally everything.

Colin Quinn has a nice piece on PC and people getting offended by things. It is worth the 2 minutes. Enjoy

Pure mishegoss…

I’m not Jewish, but that sweater offends me. I mean, it’s damn ugly, so anyone who has any taste in clothing should be offended by that sweater!

@LuckyGuy That clip was great.

@gorillapaws One of my favorite yiddish words. Especially when paired with mishbookah. It’s the alliteration I think.

LOL @jerv. You do have a point there. It is ugly.

It’s supposed to be ugly. Just like the ugly Christmas sweaters. Actually, at least this sweater is a girl cut, many of the Christmas ones are boxy. I guess the JAP’s tend to have a slim figure.