GayPatriot

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Merry Christmas from a Jewish GayPatriot

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In our first year blogging, I wrote a piece on why I, as Jew, wish people a Merry Christmas.  Then, as now, I felt it absurd that people try to strip this season of his sacred significance to Christians who celebrate today the birth of their Savior.  Knowing how holy this day is to those of that faith, I’ve keeping up my tradition, wishing people a Merry Christmas, wanting to share their joy with them.

Tomorrow, I’ll be doing just that with my brother-in-law, celebrating Christmas with him and my sister in their home as per their tradition.

Below, in slightly revised form, I include my original “Merry Christmas” post. 

In 2004, when our governor Arnold Schwarzenegger lit what most of us (including Jews) know as a Christmas tree. Some reporters sensed a controversy because his Democratic predecessor had called the decorated evergreen a “holiday tree.”

You see, that politically correct Democrat, like too many in our society, strove to eliminate all references to religion in public ceremonies and holiday displays. They seem to think that the Constitution has created some sort of wall of separation between church and state. Unfortunately, that expression (“wall of separation“) comes not from the U.S. Constitution, but from a letter of Thomas Jefferson. The actual text of the First Amendment reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” (quoting only the first part of the amendment referencing religion).

And frankly, this Jewish writer just doesn’t see how calling a decorated evergreen tree a “Christmas Tree” represents the establishment of religion. Or why it is so offensive.  And yet, so many over at the ACLU get their panties all in a bundle every time someone tries to put a religious symbol on public property.

Now this wave of political correctness has spread beyond the public square. Some corporations train their employees to say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.”

Indeed, a few of my friends worry that they might be offending me if they wish me a “Merry Christmas.” Those very individuals, some of them devout Christians, are touched when I wish them “Happy New Year” at Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year). Back in 2004, I lit the Chanuka candles for my mostly non-Jewish class of mythology students. They appreciated that I had shared this religious ritual with them.

Why should non-Christians be offended by a Christian’s sharing his or her joy in celebrating their religious holiday when they appreciate me sharing our joy in ours?

If someone wishes us a “Merry Christmas,” they speak from their heart, wanting to share the spirit of this festival (sacred to them) with us. So, let’s welcome their good Christmas wishes, even when expressed to their non-Christian fellows.

Religious expression often (yet, alas, not always) humanizes us. In the Jewish World Review, Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg wrote:

let’s put the “Ch” back into Chanukah! And, yes, let Christians put Christ back into Christmas. Let us not attempt to secularize our religions, or to blur our religious differences. Let us learn to respect each other’s religion. Then there will truly be “peace on earth and goodwill toward all men” … and women as well!

He’s right. Let’s learn to respect each other’s religions. We can’t do that by secularizing religious holidays. Nor by eliminating all references to sacred traditions in the public square. Let us share the joys of our tradition and use them to build bridges of understanding.

Indeed, the great Peggy Noonan thinks this might even help the Democrats, writing:

Stop the war on religious expression in America. Have Terry McAuliffe come forward and announce that the Democratic Party knows that a small group of radicals continue to try to “scrub” such holidays as Christmas from the public square. They do this while citing the Constitution, but the Constitution does not say it is wrong or impolite to say “Merry Christmas” or illegal to have a crèche in the public square. The Constitution says we have freedom of religion, not from religion. Have Terry McAuliffe announce that from here on in the Democratic Party is on the side of those who want religion in the public square, and the Ten Commandments on the courthouse wall for that matter. Then he should put up a big sign that says “Merry Christmas” on the sidewalk in front of the Democratic National Committee Headquarters on South Capitol Street. The Democratic Party should put itself on the side of Christmas, and Hanukkah, and the fact of transcendent faith.

Read the whole article and delight in Peggy’s wisdom and writing.

Arnold was right to restore the original name to the state’s “holiday tree,” calling it what it is and has been–a Christmas Tree. We should welcome public displays of religion in our society and as Rabbi Wohlberg suggested, using them as means to respect each other.

So, from this Jewish American, Merry Christmas to all our readers.

Comments

  1. Daniel,

    as a Christian woman I thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you have written. The issue that we confront is based upon the fact that there are people who have the quaint notion that separation of church and state means that we are not allowed to express any religious ideas.

    What I truly see is that Chanukah and Christmas are intertwined, but some may not recognize this fact (since most are unaware of the real meaning of Chanukah. As a student of the Bible, and especially since I am Catholic I am very much aware of the story of the Maccabees. There are some parts of the story that I know off by heart. Those parts are gruesome in detail (the mother and her seven sons) yet they serve as a reminder of what people have undergone for the sake of their belief in righteousness and the love of God. Chanukah of course is the festival of lights which celebrates the re-dedication of the temple after it was made an abomination during the reign of the Syrians and Greeks.

    It is the “light” and what it represents that means that Chanukah is intertwined with the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus gave a “speech” in the Temple where he stated “I am the light of the world.” Without a doubt the Mennorah within the Temple created a background for that “speech”. This light, which represents God is what it is all about, and it is why we recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

    However, let me look beyond those points for a moment and make some modern comparisons, which I hope will help to bring both Jews and Christians together in some way. When Jesus was born, it is said that the Angels sang “Peace on earth and goodwill to all men”; it is the meaning of peace that is the reason for making my comparison. We have just seen the spectacular failure of a world-wide attempt to have countries sign on to a treaty that would have had devastating economic consequences for developed countries… and down the track third world nations would also fail. What was on my mind during the conference was the prophet Isaiah, because Isaiah warned against the making of such treaties.

    In our modern world “peace” has been given a new meaning. What we see happening is that “peace” as it is understood in the modern world is predicated upon “treaties” and most of those treaties do not work because the parties will often ignore the detail. There is one group (Islam) that sees peace in a totally different way – that of submission and surrender. However, what peace really means is respect of neighbour.

    The birth, life and death of Jesus Christ was indeed revolutionary. He came at a time in history when the Romans occupied Jerusalem. In the world at large there was relative peace, yet in Jerusalem there were stirrings against the Romans. However, Jesus did not come to lead the people against the Romans, but he came on behalf of the poor people who were in fact being mistreated by their own people. He preached in a way that reminded those in charge that they were guilty of many crimes, even as the burdened people with the precepts.

    Just like Judaism, Christianity is based upon those 10 commands. These commands are summed up as “love God” and “love thy neighbour”. We do not see people loving their neighbour.

    So yes, we should be celebrating together, and thus I wish you first of all, a belated Happy Chanukah, as well as Peace and Blessings of this Christmas Season.

  4. There is history in the words Judeo-Christian….I see our faiths as a continuum of God’s gift to mankind. Judeo Christian ideals, generosity and bravery created this great nation. God bless the United States and its citizens.

  6. The other day I was surprised but pleased to find on the front steps of the Denver City and County Building a nativity, and the bell tower of that very public and Democrat-controlled building was ringing Christian Christmas carols. Not just Jingle Bells or Santa Claus is Coming to Town, but Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.

  8. Amen to that, I am proud that as a Jew in America, I don’t have to fear any pogroms or acts of hatred from my neighbors.
    I can enjoy the season, revel in Americans being so kind, generous and sharing of the holiday season.

    I always wish people a Merry Christmas and am off shortly to enjoy a Filipino Christmas meal. It’s the sharing that makes this time of year so special.

  10. As a socially-challenged ‘agnostic-pagan-baptist-born’ independent church service pianist: the wish of “Merry Christmas” allows the recipient to respond with “And a Happy New Year”

    Neither “Happy Holidays” nor “Seasons Greetings” set themselves up for a natural, unscripted response.

    May whatever diety you worship grant you a joyful new year!

  11. I spent this Christmas day with my “voluntary family,” a wonderful mixture of gay, bi and straight, male and female. It was a wonderful day. I decided not to get into any political arguments (almost everybody but me is still very liberal) — and I’m glad I didn’t. We all got along harmoniously.

    I’ve been meaning to get to a Sabbath eve service at the temple down the street from where I live. They share space with a United Methodist church. Though my family is Christian, I have several good Jewish friends. They all, to some degree, celebrate Christmas as well as Hanukkah.

    I think I heard more “Merry Christmases” this year, from people I randomly happened to meet, than I have for many years. Maybe the whole political correctness thing is really blowing over at last.

  13. I have to disagree entirely with your premise, and in particular with Peggy Noonan’s “there is no freedom from religion” comment. And ten times over I have to disagree with the sentiment of putting the ten commandments on display in courthouses.

    Regardless, I wish you and all your readers a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Terrific New Year.