Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Elder of Ziyon
Whoever would have thought that manger scenes and mall
Santas could become a topic of contention in America? That saying “Merry
Christmas” is becoming taboo in some circles?
Wow.
I spent the first decade and a half of my life in America.
Most of my neighbors were Christian, not Jewish. They put up Christmas lights
on their houses and had Christmas trees. Some of them even went to midnight
mass on Christmas eve. The stores were full of Christmas music and decorations
and so were the streets.
They were pretty.
I never imagined it would be necessary to discuss this. It
seems so bizarre but as this has become such an issue I, as a Jew, would like
to say to Christians everywhere:
For God’s sake, just say: “Merry Christmas.”
Your holiday doesn’t threaten my identity. If this time of
the year makes you feel more Christian that’s great. You being more Christian doesn’t
make me feel less Jewish.
It would be nice if you could remember that I also have a
holiday at this time of year. It’s called Hanukah (and has nothing to do with
Jesus). For those that don’t know, one wishes Jews a “Happy Hanukah.”
To Christians who wish me a “Merry Christmas” I always
answer: “Thank you. My holiday is called Hanukah but thank you.” The PC police
might see wishing someone the wrong holiday wishes as inappropriate, racist and
an attempt to subjugate a minority to the majority culture. I see it as a
well-intentioned mistake. Really, it’s not a big deal.
If you can’t remember that I have a holiday and that it’s
different from yours, you know what? That doesn’t really matter to me. I don’t
need your recognition in order to know who I am. It would be nice but it’s not
necessary. What you do doesn’t change my identity, my history, my rituals or
traditions. I will remain me and you can remain you.
If anything, as a Jewish person, what I’d like to ask of
Christians everywhere is to use this time of year to remember the true meaning
of Christmas. Do you remember what it is you are supposed to be celebrating? It
has nothing to do with presents or lights or food.
Who gets the best stuff has nothing to do with the promise
that everyone, no matter what they have done in life, can find redemption.
Having enormous family meals often has very little to do with love or
gratitude.
As a Jew, I’d like to ask
Christians everywhere not to focus on what Jews or Muslims or Sikhs or
Buddhists or whoever think of your holiday. Instead focus on what you are doing
with your holiday. What are you teaching your children about Christmas?
If you are teaching them to be
more Christ-like, that’s the best thing I could ask for. The ideas of hope,
loving your fellow man, having compassion for others etc. are eternal. I don’t
have to believe in your Savior to recognize that those are good things to
teach. I don’t have to be Christian to hope that you will teach your children
to be Christ-like or to believe that we’d all be better off if you did so.
I would like to point out that
there is a real War on Christmas and it has nothing to do with Starbucks deciding
to print “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” on their cups. Or if the cup is
red or green.
The real war on Christmas is
happening in the Middle East, in Africa and in China. It is a war on Christians
who have pledged to follow in the footsteps of the Nazarene: Jesus of Nazareth
(whose Hebrew name was Yehoshua or in English, Joshua). It is a matter of life
and death, not a matter of holiday decorations.
 |
Home in Iraq marked
with the symbol of the Nazarene
|
The war is against Christians
who are being marked for death because they have refused to submit to the
Islamic State. It is people who are beaten up, ostracized, considered “less
than,” arrested in the dead of night, blown up in their churches and sometimes
even crucified for their faith.
These things are not happening in
the Middle Ages, it’s not a thing of the past, they are happening here and now,
in a number of places around the world.
But
who cares about the Christians of Iraq or Syria or Africa or China when
Starbucks makes an issue out of printing the words: “Merry Christmas”?
Maybe you’ve lost your job or are
sick. Maybe you think that Trump is scary. Everyone has something that is
bothering them in their life. To my Jewish way of thinking it seems that
Christmas season should be a time for Christians to look beyond the issues in
their own lives.
I would hope that you use this
holiday to bring joy to others, to people in your own community less fortunate
than you. Buy presents for the kids in the poor family. Invite a lonely veteran
to have Christmas dinner with your family. There are countless small ways you
can make a big difference… If you do nothing to help others, at least be
grateful for what you have. Your “War on Christmas” is ridiculous compared to
the real war, the war on Christians. Scary is when your neighbors rise up
against you, to kill you. Scary is heads on pikes in the street, executions in
the town square. Everything else is child’s play, the complaints of the overly
satiated.
For God’s sake, just say: “Merry Christmas” and be happy
that you have the freedom to do so. Anyone who has a problem with your choice
of words is free to go curl up in a corner a cry if they like.
I choose to wish my Christian friends a very Merry
Christmas!
I’ll be busy here in Israel, reveling in the miracles of
Hanukah. As a child, I was taught about Hanukah, “a great miracle happened there.”
Now I live in the place where one says: “a great miracle happened here.” This is MY legacy and that’s what I’m going
to focus on.
I certainly won’t be thinking about the people who said
“Happy holidays” vs “Happy Hanukah” vs “Merry Christmas.”
That’s the beauty of freedom.
Thank God, we are still free enough to choose what to focus
on, to choose our own reactions. There are people elsewhere who don’t have that
luxury.
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