Posted on 12/23/2011 9:09:50 PM PST by Clive
Being Jewish never interfered with my enjoyment of Christmas or my love for this time of year.
As a child, my parents would seat me outside my dads store Als Mens Wear on Yonge Street to watch the Santa Claus Parade and it never failed to enchant.
Then it would be off with mom to see the Christmas windows at Eatons and Simpsons, with their animatronic displays of Santas workshop and other winter scenes.
Visits to jolly department-store Santas were also part of our annual routine and did not make me feel internally conflicted about being Jewish, or want to convert to Christianity. They were just fun.
Nor did joining the rest of my classmates in decorating the class Christmas tree at school, the two most popular decorations we made being cut-out (non-denominational) lanterns and snow flakes.
Indeed, I cannot remember one time growing up or any incident to this day where I found anything about the Christmas season to be offensive, or to interfere with my own celebration of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, at this time of year.
Actually, since I married a nice Catholic girl who converted to Judaism after we had children some of my fondest and funniest memories are about Christmas.
Like the time I was in church with Krys for midnight mass, seated in the balcony, and a beer bottle came slowly rolling down the inclined aisle, steadily gathering speed as it went until it hit the front of the balcony with a crash.
It was all we could do not to burst into laughter as the congregation on the main floor looked up to see what all the commotion was about save, of course, for the mortified individual who had lost control of the bottle and who, unsurprisingly, never revealed himself. (Or, for all I know, herself.)
Then there was the time one very cold Christmas where Krys parents charged me with the responsibility of purchasing their Christmas tree, a mission I took very seriously as I ventured out into the snowy night, searching high and low for the perfect one, until I found it.
Stately, symmetrical and beautiful it was.
Unfortunately, free of frozen cat urine it was not.
By the time it thawed out, while we were decorating it, my in-laws house smelled like one of those homes overrun by cats they feature on A&Es Hoarders.
We sprinkled the base of the tree with about half a bottle of my mother-in-laws perfume.
This certainly made it smell better albeit still like a tree that was going out for a big date that had been peed on by a cat. Or rather, cats.
Then again, we never forgot that Christmas.
Our kids grew up celebrating Hanukkah at our house and, both of my parents having passed away before they were born, Christmas at grandmas and grandpas.
They had the best of both worlds. Aside from all the presents, they learned the messages of Christmas and Hanukkah to believe in miracles and to love one another as God wants us to werent very different at all.
Ive never understood busy-body bureaucrats and officious officials who want to ban the symbols of Christmas at this time of year for the sake of not offending religious minorities.
Um, which religious minorities? Be specific and dont claim to speak for me or all sorts of other folks who arent Christians.
You know, for a member of a religious minority like myself, Canada is a pretty cool place.
It provided a safe haven to my late father and his family after they were smuggled out of Russia in the early 20th Century during an anti-Semitic pogrom, which, trust me on this, were a lot more dangerous to Jews than Christmas trees or carols.
Indeed, as one of the relatively few countries on Earth that guarantees religious freedom and uses the power of the state to protect minorities from religious persecution, Canada is all right by me.
And Christmas is a part of Canada.
So Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah, everyone.
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One of our friends who’s ex was Jewish always called their Christmas tree a Chrismukah tree
May this be the best Christmas, ever.
What an inspiring story. And really, why cannot Christians also observe Hanukkah, especially given that the only mention of Hanukkah in the Bible is in the NEW Testament, and Jesus himself observed it? (John 10:22—”feast of the dedication” = Hanukkah)
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and good will toward men.” (Luke 2:13-14)
“For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17)
As a Jew I wish all my Christian friends Merry Christmas. Its not politically correct not to do this. America needs to go back to tradition of our nation. We are 90% Christian nation. No issue with me.
It is also mention in Maccabees, which Catholics and the Orthodox receive.
Thanks for the ping.
Maybe next year... what a nice idea.
The Jewish people with a young child put up a Christmas tree and hid Easter eggs with the other kids. The mother said that she didn't want him turned against his religion before he was old enough to understand.
She also seemed to enjoy it as much as anybody...and her tree was always one of the prettiest.
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