Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Can I have some opinions on this please? Giving out Dreidel and Gelt to DDs classmates in C of E school

101 replies

PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog · 04/12/2022 12:14

Would this offend/make you think we as the only Jewish parents in school had a 'problem' with Christmas? We really don't, we are more cultural than religious and DD is at a non religious school as we are concerned about security at Jewish Schools.

DD is in reception and has been coming home with Christmas cards and candy canes and things from her friends. We think this is lovely and not a problem at all! The others have been talking about Santa and Christmas too, DD just says, 'We don't have Christmas.' We have told her never to say we don't believe in Santa, as other children would be very upset to hear this. Friends have been asking her what she does in the holidays.

DH and I were thinking of buying some wooden dreidels from Amazon, giving out some parev (dairy free, due to allergies) gelt and a little card with the rules of the game and a few lines about Channuka and a message: 'Thank you for being my friend and have a love time in the holidays! from DD and Family'

Would you be OK with this, or would it be too much? I have autism, so don't want to do anything 'wrong' or make anyone feel uncomfortable.

Thanks,

Pip x

OP posts:
User135792468 · 04/12/2022 15:28

I think it’s lovely. No true Christian would have a problem with it at all, they would embrace your thoughtfulness.

User135792468 · 04/12/2022 15:29

Oh and I’m sorry you didn’t feel you could send your dd to a Jewish school due to security. My dc go to a Catholic school due to our religious beliefs and I can’t imagine not picking it due to worrying about their safety as a result.

Proneu82 · 04/12/2022 15:29

AllPlayedOut · 04/12/2022 15:26

It's hardly a waste of money if it teaches them about Judaism and Hanukkah. It's no more a waste than many stocking fillers and less so than most I imagine. It's something they're unlikely to receive elsewhere.

Ok, just add to it 🤷‍♀️

as I say… nice idea but in reality… 4 year olds? Christmas time? Wouldn’t bother.

Would wait for another celebration time where it won’t be lost in the excitement of Christmas

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Primary education
GalesThisMorning · 04/12/2022 15:30

Proneu82 · 04/12/2022 15:15

Nice idea

but will be landfill by the new year Op

i wouldn’t bother

I mean, every card and the majority of kids gifts will be landfill at some point! We still celebrate though.

Proneu82 · 04/12/2022 15:31

They will study the Jewish religion as part of the curriculum. I think would be fab to do then. Teacher would probably dedicate a lesson to it!

spanieleyes · 04/12/2022 15:32

Given Chanukah is celebrated this year from 18th December, there doesn't seem to be a better time!

AllPlayedOut · 04/12/2022 15:32

Would wait for another celebration time where it won’t be lost in the excitement of Christmas*

Confused Hanukkah begins on the 18th of December and the dreidel is a Hanukkah tradition so it's an entirely appropriate time.

loafintheoven · 04/12/2022 15:32

It's a yes from me! A lovely thoughtful way to make your child feel included.

GalesThisMorning · 04/12/2022 15:33

Proneu82 · 04/12/2022 15:29

Ok, just add to it 🤷‍♀️

as I say… nice idea but in reality… 4 year olds? Christmas time? Wouldn’t bother.

Would wait for another celebration time where it won’t be lost in the excitement of Christmas

Show quote history

And then this comment above beautifully illustrates why we should help children out of ignorance about other people's religious traditions!!!

If we did more of what you're suggesting OP, we'd have fewer people making thinking like that.

Original poster
PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog · 04/12/2022 15:33

Thanks all! I have ordered them and DH is doing the cards on the PC. If they compost/throw away the dreidel it will decompose, they are wooden and unvarnished. Re the charity thing, we give a charity donation every week on Shabbat and during Hannukah, so I think we're covered.

OP posts:
GalesThisMorning · 04/12/2022 15:34

Well done OP, happy Hanukkah!

Original poster
PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog · 04/12/2022 15:35

Thank you! x

OP posts:
Proneu82 · 04/12/2022 15:35

PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog · 04/12/2022 15:33

Thanks all! I have ordered them and DH is doing the cards on the PC. If they compost/throw away the dreidel it will decompose, they are wooden and unvarnished. Re the charity thing, we give a charity donation every week on Shabbat and during Hannukah, so I think we're covered.

Lovely then and very kind of you! Enjoy

AllPlayedOut · 04/12/2022 15:35

Hanukkah isn't a second rate Christmas. It's a completely separate holiday and It doesn't have to step aside to let Christmas through. There's room for both to be acknowledged and celebrated.

AllPlayedOut · 04/12/2022 15:36

Wonderful idea OP. I'm sure that the children will love it.

IDontWantToBeAPie · 04/12/2022 15:36

Sounds lovely to me. I'm culturally Protestant but really an atheist and I would think it was a lovely way to teach my kids about other cultures, religions and traditions.

I had a friend at my CofE primary who gave me clogs full of chocolate at Christmas because she had Dutch heritage. It went down well tbh.

TangledWebofMincemeatDeception · 04/12/2022 15:36

Oh it’s a lovely thing to do and I would have been very happy for my children to gain insight into another culture, faith and holiday. Plus your daughter gets to share something with her friends.

Original poster
PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog · 04/12/2022 15:37

Would wait for another celebration time where it won’t be lost in the excitement of Christmas*

This is a sad way to look at it, DD is as excited for Hannukah as her friends are for Christmas and wants to join in.

OP posts:
JustCakeInDrag · 04/12/2022 15:41

Sounds great, OP. Chag sameach!

CryCeratops · 04/12/2022 15:42

Ponderingwindow · 04/12/2022 15:10

Are people joking about not knowing about dreidels?

also have ASD and sometimes I can’t tell if people are serious or if there really are places where this information doesn’t somehow get taught to people.

I’d never heard of them before this thread.
I went to Catholic primary and secondary schools, and both of them focused all the religious education aspect of the curriculum completely on Christianity, specifically Catholicism. Non-Catholic Christian denominations got a passing mention occasionally, and other religions were completely ignored.

I’ve googled it now though, and OP’s idea sounds lovely.

RichardOsmansXraySpecs · 04/12/2022 15:44

ChristmasJoysuckers · 04/12/2022 15:13

I've never heard that word until this thread

Nor me.

I just googled. Lovely idea OP.

Rebecca34 · 04/12/2022 15:44

I know a lot of people who do that and it always goes down really well.

Just a note - pareve chocolate may not be suitable for dairy allergic kids - please check the labels! Also kids in general don't love dark chocolate. In the past i have found toffee coins which are more popular and less likely to be dairy contaminated.

(rules for allergy different than rules for pareve, dark chocolate can be made on lines used for dairy chocolate and still qualify as pareve but may not be suitable for very sensitive dairy allergic people)

Proneu82 · 04/12/2022 15:46

PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog · 04/12/2022 15:37

Would wait for another celebration time where it won’t be lost in the excitement of Christmas*

This is a sad way to look at it, DD is as excited for Hannukah as her friends are for Christmas and wants to join in.

I meant the other children!

My suggestion was to give them out when the young children are studying it, and would really be focussed on.

At Christmas time, not for YOUR a daughter but for the 29 other pupils… more likely lost in excitement of Christmas.

nothing to be sad about

HobnobsChoice · 04/12/2022 15:47

I think it is a lovely idea.
My kids are at a community school but we went in when my daughter was in Reception to talk about Hanukkah and lit the Hanukkiah and had a load of driedls to pass around. I also made 50 sufganiyot which were a hit although the dough was hardwork!
Hanukkah was a bit earlier that year so it didn't clash with the nativity and panto and Christmas lunches. This year my son in in reception so we have agreed to go in Year 1 when it falls earlier.
We also donated some of the dozens of books we have got from PJ library to the school library. My children are proud of their heritage and want to share it.

AllPlayedOut · 04/12/2022 15:47

My suggestion was to give them out when the young children are studying it, and would really be focussed on.

So you'd give Christmas cards out at Easter?