Git Meshige, although I see no tree next to them, if it weren’t for “some” group lighting a public menorah, I would see NO menorah ever. There are Jews in all 50 states, and they are vanishing because, they see no menorahs or anything Jewish anywhere – not even television – and all they get is xmas memes on facebook and movies. Then they hear “happy holiday” as I get flooded in my email from corporate sales lists on the 24th and 25th. What holiday, what holiday season? Frankly, this is the more offensive as they’re lumping me into a religion I am not a part of. It is not inclusive, it is forceful.
Secondly, as much as I don’t want to participate, the prices for items are only cheap once a year.
Otherwise, ignorance is the enemy nowadays, and while we argue if you should give a gift at the cheapest time of the year is kosher or not, everyone “out of town” as you call it are pretending to be full blown evangelists as that is all they see now.