Rabbis versus Christmas: Religious rivalry in Jerusalem benefits no one
The 'Lobby for Jewish Values' is trying to exorcise Yuletide festivities from the streets of Jerusalem.
By Morten Berthelsen Tags: Israel newsOn the streets of Jerusalem, the religious war on Christmas is on. Last week, the "Lobby for Jewish Values" started handing out fliers condemning the holiday and inciting the public to boycott restaurants and hotels that sell or put up Christmas trees and other "foolish" Christian symbols.
Backed by rabbis, and with the self-righteous air of the American Christian right, lobby chairman Ofer Cohen told the Israeli media that he had considered publishing a list of businesses bold enough to put up Christmas decorations, call for a boycott against them, and - with a little help from Jerusalem Rabbinate - revoke the kashrut certificates of said hotels and restaurants.
According to the Israeli media, the fliers distributed by the Lobby for Jewish Values contain the following call to arms:
"The people of Israel have given their soul over the years in order to maintain the values of the Torah of Israel and the Jewish identity. You should also continue to follow this path of the Jewish people's tradition and not give in to the clownish atmosphere of the end of the civil year. And certainly not help those businesses that sell or put up the foolish symbols of Christianity."
It's unclear exactly what is considered "foolish symbols of Christianity," and, on top of that, how displaying them can result in withdrawal of the certificate confirming you adhere to Jewish dietary laws.
Is it really necessary for rabbis and Jewish lobbies to issue a naughty list and play the kashrut card? Is it not enough to encourage people to avoid hostelries with Christmas displays, or are brightly lit Christmas trees invisible to Jewish eyes?
The Lobby for Jewish Values and the Jerusalem Rabbinate say that Christmas - the birth of Jesus - is just not kosher. That rules out the manger scene and all things nativity. But what about the traditional Christmas tree - a pagan ritual interpreted by fundamentalist Christians as a heathen practice and thus forbidden? Should pine trees be banned in Israel? What about Santa Claus and his elves? And what if the Christmas tree has been certified kosher?
In Israel, where there is no division of synagogue and state, religion - and religious muscle - rules, but to what end? Samuel J. Scott, an American former journalist now working at the Refuah Institute in Jerusalem raises an important question.
"The secular, Westernized celebration of the holiday season - and the rabbinical efforts to clamp down on the phenomenon - is yet another example of one of the central paradoxes facing Israel," he writes.
"The Jewish state wants to be two things: a Jewish state and a free, democratic state. But what is the solution when these competing priorities conflict? If all Israelis start celebrating Christmas (either as Christians or as secularized revelers), then it will arguably no longer be a Jewish state. If the government bans everyone from having anything to do with the holiday, then it will no longer be a free state."
Whether the Jewish state becomes a nation of Christmas revellers or not, today's battle is being waged in Jerusalem, a city with a Christian population of two percent, and dropping. This is not a boycott of Christian symbolism, but of the Jews that cater to the tens of thousands of Christian tourists who amass in the Holy Land every December.
The boycott advocates would do well to remember that if Christian cash is not welcome in Jerusalem, it's greeted with open arms in Bethlehem.
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Christmas in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. |
| Photo by: (JINI /Archive) |
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They need our prayers for their spiritual eyes and ears to be opened and to hear as Samuel heard. All things work for good for those called by The Creator and walk according to His will and purpose in Love. Joyful holidays to all.
just a quick word here/look up xmas tree on the inet-totally pagan/ read the bible-wise man visited jesus as a young child not a baby/ easter is ashtoroth again totally pagan and jews are forbidden to participate in this by God so it has nothing to do with them being afraid of accepting other religions/
Unbelievable. (I am left speechless beyond this.)
We never tire of bemoaning our long history of victimization by Christians, Muslims, Egyptians, Romans, Greeks... you name it. Maybe we could take advantage of this opportunity to show all those folks that we really are different, and that, over the course of a few thousand years' worth of bigotry, we learned something else besides how to be bigots.
... The headlines if a European priest, say a German one, had condemned Hanukka and threathened to put together a "black list" of businesses that support Hannuka? I think we all know what the headlines would be, it would contain one (sadly, overused) phrase: Anti-semitism. The commentators would also refer to the 1930's and 1940's. In this case, it would actually fit perfectly. The viewpoint of the rabbis in the story is nothing but bigotry. Israel would do well to take a stance condemning religious and racial bigotry and truly become a secular state. Oh, and most of the "symbols of Christianity" are in actuality pagan symbols, as Christmas is not really a Christian holiday (hence why it is actually still called "yule" in some countries). We just think it is Christian due to good PR. ;)
You people have captured the land of someone else and than implementing rules of your own on to the other. Shame on you.
I'm definitely forwarding this to all my Christian friends in the U.S. Israel is no friend to the U.S. or Christians in general. We should've removed our support for Israel long ago.
Just when I think some Hareidim have gone as far down in the mire as they can, I find that there is yet another sordid level to which they have descended. First, it was demanding gender separated bus seating. Then it was beating women who wanted to pray at the Wall. After that it was spitting on Christian clergy and now it is preventing Christans from observing their sacerd holiday and asking Jews not welcome these guests. The truth is that all this does not defame more liberal Judaism and secular Jews, but rather Orthodoxy - MODERN Orthodoxy. By and large the so called "Zionist" Rabbis are always telling us they are more moderate, more respectful of fellow Jews than the big bad Haredim are, but I rarely see a panel of Modern Orthodox Rabbis speak out against these would be fanatics who think they and they alone have a direct line to the Holy One. The failure of Modern Orthodox Rabbis to speak out against this hatred is a stain.
"If all Israelis start celebrating Christmas (either as Christians or as secularized revelers), then it will arguably no longer be a Jewish state" Samuel J. Scott American former Journalist Okay so then... If I celebrate my nephew's 8 year old birthday then I'm going to be 8 years old again. OH! GOODIE! to be that young again! What twaddle!
It's funny. I'm from a Roman Catholic tradition originally (now happily agnostic). Christmas stems very much from Pagan solstice rites of varying kinds (Saturnalia being the Roman one which got the date - 25th and the northern European ones which took all the nature-based things like pine trees, holly, mistletoe). Of course xmas tress have little to do with some first century Jewish preacher (they don't grow in the area for a start) but for my part, I find something comforting in the pagan trappings. It is a reminder that there existed cultures, traditions, beliefs and civilisation in Northern Europe before Christianity was forced down the throats of every country there. Christianity had to adapt. Life was hard for Northern Europeans in winter and the rebirth of the sun and shorter days and the fact that some plants were still green and bore fruit even in the harshest climes were all symbols of hope to them. These are not bad things to believe. SO Merry Yule to all.
Distributing Free Christmas Trees in Jerusalem http://jerusalempedia.com/Christmas-Jerusalem.html
Think about celebration traditions in every culture/religion, there exists to share the joy of life with everyone. It is a Small World, there is no countries, barriers, just a Big Family. Peace, Paz, Shalom..for all the people around the world and remember be Happy, life is to short!!
Jesus was born - and died - a Jew. He was a Rabbi whose views would not have been considered "orthodox" had he been alive today. He certainly didn't celebrate Christmas. Christianity was founded decades after he died. I doubt if he would have approved of the treatment of Jews by Christians over the centuries. Peace on Earth and Goodwill towards Men did not include the Jews!
This will definitely be discussed in my church today!
As someone who lives far from Israel, this controversy certainly points to the gathering strength of ultra-orthodox Jewish people. The sad thing, from my Christian perspective, is in seeing "The Baby" being thrown out with all the red and green bath-water. By all means, be critical of all the garish "cultural decoration" that accompanies Christmas (many are those who simply worship money), but be open to Rabbi Jeshua Ben Joseph. In my opinion, He is who the Gospel says He is.
Perhaps rabbis forget Jerusalem is the holy city for three religions and they also forget Jesus was hebrew. Merry Christmas
They're full of hate. Maybe one to reverse the damage done to Jews worldwide (in case you don't know this news made it all over the world while in the White House they lit a Menorah) is a referendum to show the world that those "rabbis" don't represent Judaism. What a sad story...
I'd like to take the time to wish all Jew,Christian and Muslim and very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
"The Prosperity Of The Western World...is built around Santa Claus. If you take that away, you might as well burn all the money. That`s just Common Sense." BRAVO! I have always said the same!
is built around Santa Claus. If you take that away, you might as well burn all the money. That's just Common Sense.
Merry Christmas to all the Christian ppl in the world and specially the ones who came to celebrate it in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. We celebrate too when a Jewish child is born, like the Christians do, don't worry what the Rabi have to say we don't, it's just anther opinion that no one is interested, you are all welcome to celebrate peace and tolerance. To all Christians from my Jewish family God Bless you!!
Celebrate Saturnalia, the fun holiday the Christians invented Christmas to compete with.
I'm Jewish and I'm disgusted!! How long we have to put up with this, they are no different than the fanatic Muslims who wont to make the whole world Muslim, they should be charged and put in jail, bloody religious fascists!!They are the ones that are giving the Jews bad name! what a Hucpa!!!
"May they live a long and happy life, spreading hate and dissension."
Here is another good reason why Israel should not have sovereignity over East Jerusalem.
I see no reason to estimate the influence of religious fanatics in Israel as zero, like you try to ascertain. Just the contrary.
This goes beyond, way beyond, the live and let live philosophy. This lot is vindictive and holds everyone in society not like them not only in contempt but as a threat. They only way they know how to be with others is by expelling them and if they have to confront them in their space make sure that they do nothing in public that offends their exclusivism. They must demean, ridicule, scorn and mock and then push out. This is the only way they know how to live in human society.
this land was, is and forever be our land
It is strange that, while the Lobby for Jewish Values is on the opposite end of the political spectrum from me, I feel that they do a better job of getting my point across. I say kudos to them. May they live a long and happy life, spreading hate and dissension.
Israelis as a whole because of some rabid rabbis. I lived there 22 years, am Christian and was always treated as one of them.
I know and admire. The ones I admire are tolerant and respectful of others and their beliefs. How else could they ask for the same in return? Furthermore, Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays is goood for all creeds!
May be now europeans and americans'll understand what mistake they made when gave this land to jews. Give to jew a finger and he'll eat all the hand.
Why should Christmas in Jerusalem be any different than Hanuka in Moldova?
With the Christian Cash comes the Christmas Tree.Both goodies from the over 2 billion Christian Heathens.Merry Chrismas you all!
Another example that provide proof for a complete seperation of religion and state! These religious extremist morons are the foundation of everything what is going wrong in this world. 99% of the worlds trouble/wars are caused by religious fanatics!!
This puts an end to nothing. If the Rabbis said that every non-Jew should be dressed as a chicken and put in a cage, it wouldnt make it happen. You can put up christmas decorations in jerusalem, the rabbis might be mad, but they always are. so shut ya trap!
So much for 'One City for three religions'
Like so many other christian foreigners and turist visiting Betlehem, it is possible to spent a real, beautiful and peaceful christmas f.e in American Colony (hotel). I only think that it is already booked.
tens of thousand of christians come to Israel at christmas, ummmm,so its ok to take their money????but don"t say the word Christmas UMmmmmmmmm, what the heck, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.
Is this really needed right now? While some of the "foolish symbols of Christianity" like the lights and tree have pagan roots others like the manger scene and nativity are key parts to Christianity beliefs. It the holy cross one of the foolish symbols? This could turn many right wing Christians in US against Israel which are key to Jewish support.
As a (non-practicing) Jew I find such bigoted Rabbis as dangerous and disagreable as any extremists from any other religion.
What else can one say about this? Well, I guess we can say tht they are anti-Christian. But then I can't say that of my Jewish friends generally, but they are not israeli.
Christmas: peace on earth and goodwill to all men. Sounds good to me...
Waaah, my religion is better than your's. Religeous intolerance is to be condemned. That includes Judaism. Salaam/Shalom
I do not understand it !!! If i talk to jewish people they always tell me that the jewish religion is one of the oldest and stronges religion of the world. They are the chosen people. How come that they (the rabbies and pro jewish)are so afraid of sign of other religions ? They do not trust themselves ???
not going to win Israel lots of friends. Certainly gives support to the idea that Israel is a theocracy and not a democracy...
Jews everywhere! Wake up and take a stance against bigotry in Israel. You are the only salvation for the country. Otherwise it is to become totally "Jewish" and totally isolated from the world.......and anti-semitism will continue to rise....to the detriment of Jews everywhere, not just in Israel.
to the argument that only under Jewish rule there will be freedom of worship for all religions in Jerusalem.
... that they cannot be entrusted with any hegemony at all in the holy Old City of Jerusalem... ... they would involve Israel in all manner of petty and unholy deeds...
Who cares what the right wing bigots think - Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour are full of Christmas cheer and all are welcome to share it!