In Israel, "Merry Christmas" is most commonly said in Hebrew as "Chag Molad Sameach" (חג מולד שמח), which translates to "Happy Festival of the Birth". It is also acceptable to simply say "Merry Christmas" in English, particularly in tourist areas or among English speakers.
For those who are familiar with Hebrew, saying “Chag Sameach” (חג שמח) captures that essence beautifully; it translates directly to “happy holiday.” It's simple yet heartfelt enough to convey your good intentions without delving into specific religious connotations.
How to say Merry Christmas in Hebrew | Language Lesson
What does Oy Vey mean in Yiddish?
Oy vey (Yiddish: אױ װײ) is a Yiddish phrase expressing dismay or exasperation. Also spelled oy vay, oy veh, or oi vey, and often abbreviated to oy, the expression may be translated as "oh, woe!" or "woe is me!" Its Hebrew equivalent is oy vavoy (אוי ואבוי, óy va'avóy).
“Barukh HaShem.” Barukh Hashem (בָּרוּךְ הַשֵּׁם) is the quintessential Jewish way to say, “Thank God.” It is a way to express appreciation for what we have and what we are experiencing in the moment. Some people punctuate their gratitude-filled days with this expression.
If you're looking for the Jewish holiday that occurs arount Christmastime, you want Chanukah, the festival of lights. Christmas is not a Jewish holiday. Many Christians think of Christmas as an American holiday, a secular holiday or a cultural holiday, but most Jews today do not think of Christmas that way.
Judaism does not accept Jesus as a divine being, an intermediary between humans and God, a messiah, or holy. Belief in the Trinity is also held to be incompatible with Judaism, as are a number of other tenets of Christianity.
Why some scholars say it is haram • Islam teaches pure monotheism (Tawḥīd). Christmas celebrates doctrines such as Jesus being the son of God, which Islam clearly rejects. Congratulating a religious festival can be understood as approving or affirming those beliefs, even if unintentionally.
In fact, all Rabbinic references to Jesus uses either “Yeshu” or “that man,” with one notable exception – Rabbi Maimonides who lived in Muslim-ruled Spain and Egypt between 1138 to 1204. He doesn't flatter Jesus, of course, but he does refer to him as “Yeshua of Nazareth,” and not as “Yeshu.”
FEEL FREE TO SHARE: For the vast majority of people, saying “Merry Christmas” is not offensive. It is a cultural greeting, usually offered with warmth, goodwill, and a sense of shared celebration — not with an intent to exclude.
There is nothing wrong with Jews wishing non-Jewish neighbors “Merry Christmas,” just as it would not be a betrayal for Christians to wish someone Jewish “Shabbat Shalom” when leaving work on Friday afternoon.
Since only 2.5% of the country's population are Christians and Christmas is not one of Israel's holidays, Christmas is not a common holiday in Israel, this is due to the fact that the country was set up around Judaism, not Christianity.
Many Jews view Christians as having quite an ambivalent view of the Torah and the laws contained in it: on one hand, Christians speak of it as God's absolute word, but on the other, they apply its commandments with a certain selectivity.
This means that Muslims, like most other religious faiths, do not believe in celebrating the religious festivals of other traditions, as it is seen as paying homage to some beliefs that may be considered blasphemous. For Muslims, observing the Christian celebration of Christmas is “haram” – forbidden.
"Mazel tov" (Yiddish: מזל טוב, romanized: mázl tov) or "mazal tov" (Hebrew: מזל טוב, romanized: mazál tov; lit. "good fortune") is a Jewish phrase used to express congratulations for a happy and significant occasion or event.
There is no official Jewish view of Jesus but in one respect Jews are agreed in their attitude towards Jesus. Jews reject the tremendous claim, which is made for Jesus by his Christian followers - that Jesus is the Lord Christ, God Incarnate, the very Son of God the Father.
