2007 Jonathan Safran Foer Riffs on Hanukkah and Christmas (and Kwanzaa) The author of the highly-acclaimed novel Everything is Illuminated , and most recently, of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is known for his tongue-in-cheek humor. Here's Jonathan Safran Foer's op-ed in the New York Times. A Beginner's Guide to Hanukkah : CHRISTMAS -- Christmas