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Yiddish Jews' Christmas Traditions Explored in New Book

12/24/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Jordan Chad's book, Christmas in Yiddish Tradition: The Untold Story, analyzes the link between Yiddish-speaking Jews and Christmas.
Chad notes Christmas was once favored by European Jews, who called it Nitl and linked it to December 24.
The book explains this practice allowed Jewish men to take a break from study halls to celebrate.
It traces how traditions evolved after Jewish immigration to the United States and notes a revival.

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Story summary

Jordan Chad's book, Christmas in Yiddish Tradition: The Untold Story, analyzes the link between Yiddish-speaking Jews and Christmas.
Chad notes Christmas was once favored by European Jews, who called it Nitl and linked it to December 24.
The book explains this practice allowed Jewish men to take a break from study halls to celebrate.
It traces how traditions evolved after Jewish immigration to the United States and notes a revival.