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A Very Jewish Christmas: Old World Jewish Christmas Traditions

Monday Dec 23, 2019 7:00pm
Khayim Zhitlovskias depicted as Santa Claus. Der groyser kundes, January 15, 1909. YIVO Library.
Lecture

Admission: $15
YIVO members & students: $10

Watch the video

The "December Dilemma" is a long standing issue in America, but it also has deep roots in Eastern Europe, where the context and relationships between Jews and Gentiles were quite different. In this talk, Itzik Gottesman will examine the fascinating Jewish beliefs and traditions related to Christmas in the Old World.

A Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony and a kosher Chinese food dinner will follow the presentation. 


About the Speaker

Itzik Gottesman is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Germanic Studies and is on the faculty of the Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. For 13 years he was the associate editor of the Yiddish Forward newspaper. He is a folklorist and directs the blog "Yiddish Song of the Week" which features rare field recordings of Yiddish singers.


Other programs in this series:
A Very Jewish Christmas: Jesus and Shabbtai Zvi, from Heretic to Hero (2022)
Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese Food (2020)
A Very Jewish Christmas (2017)