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Celebrating a Jewish Christmas
"Keep Christ in Christmas!" is the familiar refrain of Christians who fear the secularization of the holy day celebrating the birth of Jesus, their savior.
But in America, non-Christians often celebrate Christmas.
According to a recent poll by the Christian group LifeWay Research, "A majority of agnostics or those claiming no preference (89 percent), individuals claiming other religions (62 percent), and even atheists (55 percent) celebrate Christmas along with 97 percent of Christians."
Do you need to be Christian to celebrate Christmas? What is Christmas all about?
What's a "Jewish Christmas"? Perhaps it would better be described as celebrating Christmas, Jewishly. But either way, I refer to the fact that Jews, have practices which recognize the significance of Christmas. In fact, while not always defined as Jewish Christmas observance, Christmas has played a role in the thought and practice of Jews for almost two thousand years.
From being a day which inspired terror on the part of oppressed Jewish minorities living in parts of Late-antique Christendom and Medieval Europe, to the joy the holiday brings to contemporary American Jews who can appreciate the holiday's beauty in light of the unprecedented freedom and ease we enjoy in America today, Christmas has loomed almost as large for many Jews as it has for Christians. For many Jews a generation back, and for some to this day, it meant movies and Chinese food i.e. practices which avoided Christians as much as possible, either because of the enforced silence of the theater or the presumed non-Christian identity of the restaurant owners.
What's changed in the last generation is that the options for Jews observing Christmas have expanded from two, to an almost infinite number of possibilities. In the past, the basic choices were to mark the day with practices which identified the day as one on which Jews needed extra protection, both physically and spiritually, because of the threat created by people observing Christmas, or to mimic Christmas practices in order to appear more "normal" to the Christian majorities among whom Jews lived.
Today however, we have many more options - options which suggest that we are increasingly inter-connected even though we are not all the same. While purists on both sides fear this, it seems to me that feeling deep connection to those who we still acknowledge as different from ourselves is a critical component of living peacefully in a world in which the distance between us is always shrinking, no matter how much some people wish it were otherwise.
The Jewish owners of one Philadelphia restaurant have put their own spin on the Jewish celebration of Christmas - one which brings together the experience of growing up Jewish in America, the food of Israel, and the desire to share both with all who may be interested, whether they are Jewish or not.
The owners of Zahav are inviting people to what they call "A Very Jewish Christmas":
Filled with Israeli-inspired Chinese food and two 80s flicks on the big screen, Chef Michael Solomonov reminisces on his childhood through this festive night. "Growing up Jewish, it's hard not to feel left out at Christmas time, so my family and I observed the tradition of many Jewish families: enjoying Chinese take-out and watching a favorite movie instead," said Solomonov.
The $50 meal and movie night includes wonton soup, lamb egg rolls, salt and pepper squid, cold sesame noodles, Persian fried rice, cashew chicken, mushroom and tofu hot pot and a "pg-rated" happy ending dessert. Plus, if you miss the first movie screening at 6 p.m., check out the 8:30 show.
Some will surely take offense at what they will deem to be a syncretistic mash-up of two discreet religious traditions, but I am not so sure. It's not like I can eat the food this restaurant serves. I can't - I only eat food that is strictly kosher. It's just that I am moved by the desire to share treasured family traditions which discover joy in the midst of other people's holidays.
I am struck by the fact that anything which any religious community currently thinks of as "traditional" was once an innovation, including the food norms which govern my personal existence and that for all we know, the sharing of Chinese food and movies may be one of those contemporary innovations which is making the move into traditonality. If that is the case, now would be the time to ask what the purpose of this emergent tradtion is? How does it work for those who practice it? What does it mean?
Are Chinese food and a movie simply a way for Jews to insulate ourselves from the larger culture? A way in which to make sure that we have an agreed upon way to occupy ourselves while the majority celebrates "their" holiday? For some, that is almost certainly the case, and perhaps that is enough. But perhaps there is more.
Perhaps, this American Jewish custom is also a way of acknowledging that here in America, Christmas is "our holiday too". I am not suggesting that we buy into a theology of Christmas or even of its traditionally Christian practices.
I am simply suggesting that like the vast Christian majority among whom Jews live in America, it is a day which reminds us that we can celebrate the fact that others are celebrating. We need not fear that as we once had good reason to. In fact, we can delight in it, and not simply because it is a "day off".
We can celebrate that for the first time in the entire 2000 year history of the Jewish Diaspora the religious and cultural celebrations of others are safe and comfortable for us. We can choose to honor them in any number of ways. We can volunteer our time so that Christians can more easily take the day off, we can take a moment to consider the remarkable and unique beauty of "someone else's" holiday, etc. the list goes on and on, and when Jews do those things, it really is a very Jewish Christmas.
And to those Christian purists who worry about the dilution of their holiday and the corrupting of their tradition, I would suggest that they be a bit less fearful. After all, a holiday which has inspired hundreds of millions of people for thousands of years is not likely to be undermined by the affections of some of Jews, agnostics, or other non-Christians, is it?
Not to mention, that what Christmas means has been answered, and is still answered in a variety of way by a variety of self-declared believing Christians. One might even suggest that it is the day's ability to bear those multiple meanings which has kept it going strong all these many years. And as one who loves Christmas, I hope that never changes.
By
Brad Hirschfield
|
December 20, 2010; 2:47 PM ET
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Posted by: themoderate | December 23, 2010 9:32 AM
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Dear Brad,
"Keep Christ in Christmas!" is the familiar refrain of Christians who fear..."
First, lets make that "Some Christians". As a Christian myself, I have always enjoyed the idea that Christmas is celebrated in Japan as a midwinter holiday by Buddhists, and Shintoists who have absolutely no belief in the religious aspects of Christmas.
Also, I think the whole thing about winter holidays is healthy and helps lots of people counteract the all too common winter depression. Personally, I would like to see more Hanukkah decorations. Maybe even trees decked out in silver and blue and symbols of warmly remembered traditions. That would enrich us all.
We have Jewish friends who are courtesy Aunt and Uncle to our children as they grew up and even now. We often call them when we call our families on Christmas, because we have the time to do it then and good relationships are on our minds. One of them last year said "Merry Christmas, it is ok to say that you know. It is just about good cheer to us, so Merry Christmas to you and to us.". "Merry Christmas!", I relied. Good cheer in midwinter and fine relationships. That's what it is about to us. We also have the religious aspect that we celebrate in church, but that is far from all there is to it.
We are completely with you when you said:
"It's just that I am moved by the desire to share treasured family traditions which discover joy in the midst of other people's holidays."
So Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, joyous holidays to all.
Posted by: themoderate | December 22, 2010 8:13 AM
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I much prefer to hear ''Happy Holiday'' as there is not only Christmas in December, but Hanukkah and Kwanza, too.
And, I guess it does make me a little upset when someone says ''Merry Xmas'' as I am a Jew.
Besides this whole Xmas bit started with the Pagan Soltice Celebration--the church adopted it to bring people into the church. If you look at all the facts, the man called Jesus would have been bornI believe in the Spring of the year. Anyway, it was not December.
Posted by: Channah | December 22, 2010 3:31 AM
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Posted by: wek41 | December 21, 2010 8:30 PM
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Having fun on the day of Christmas certainly does not mean the you are celebrating the holiday! I think we have to acknowledge this as Jews. You have to stand for something and not just cave in to the predominant culture.
Posted by: simone5 | December 21, 2010 11:46 AM
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I especially enjoyed your observation that "for the first time in the entire 2000 year history of the Jewish Diaspora the religious and cultural celebrations of others are safe and comfortable for us." It's probably the friendliest thing I've ever read from a non-Christian about the Christmas holiday.
May you and your family enjoy a happy Christmas Sabbath time this year. (I'm one of those 7th-day Sabbath-keeping Christians, and will be in church on Christmas morning.)
Posted by: dennmurphy | December 21, 2010 9:01 AM
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Irish Spin: Tradition is not sacrosanct. A bad tradition must be set aside and a better one established. It's not done that way. It is now.
Posted by: jobandon | December 21, 2010 6:01 AM
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Another option that has sprung up for Jews is the so-called "Matzo Ball" which is celebrated on December 24th, but is not a Christmas party. It's a social gathering for young Jews to meet and have a good time while maintaining their Jewish identity. There's more information at Wikipedia.
I am not a Jew, but I want to wish Jews a happy holiday season. Unlike some other members of my faith who say "Merry Christmas" to people they KNOW do not celebrate it, I do not want other people to feel left out or excluded because of my holiday. So however Jews choose to spend this time, I wish them and their families well and a happy new year.
Edward J. Cunningham
Rockville, MD
Posted by: femfour | December 20, 2010 10:59 PM
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Rabbi:
Why did you fail to mention that Jesus was Jewish?
Posted by: MM55 | December 20, 2010 9:09 PM
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Rabbi, you are so wrong I don't know where to begin. The reason some American Jews get together on Dec. 25th is NOT to celebrate. It's because all our employers close, so we should sit at home alone? It's a day off, pure and simple. I enjoy Christmas lights as much as the next guy, but I'm not celebrating their holiday -- and neither are you.
Posted by: SilverSpringer1 | December 20, 2010 9:08 PM
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A Charlie Brown on what Christmas is all about:
Charlie Brown Shouts:
"Isn't there anyone who understands what Christmas is all about?"
Linus:
"Sure, I can tell you what Christmas is about.
December 25th is associated with the birth of many pagan gods, including Mithra, Horus, Hercules, Zeus, and Sol Invictus. The Roan festival Saturnalia would also end around this time. Christianity imported many of these pagan myths and traditions into its own customs around 400 AD.
Today Christian express outrage that Christmas is loosing its Christina Roots. This is ironic since it was Christianity that hijacked the holiday in the first place to make it easier to convert new followers.
Nevertheless , it is a wonderful opportunity to share our love with friends and family, and commit acts of goodwill for those that are less fortunate. It is a time for children to revel in their innocence and wonder about the world, and adults to find their inner child.
That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."
It seems to me that Charles M. Shultz got it right in that one.
We should enjoy our holidays, Christmas included, with Christian religious themes, or not as we please. Enjoy.
Thanks again for the thoughtful essay Brad. Well written and reasonable as usual.