“‘Tis the Season...”
Well, “‘Tis the season to be jolly, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!” It is Christmas time once again in what my father of blessed memory used to love to call, “Middle America” and at least some of us Jews who have not fled to warmer climes for the Winter Break have shuffled into the synagogue on this pre-Christmas Shabbat.
The Christmas season can be a bit of a difficult time for Jews living in small Jewish communities like the Quad Cities. That is obviously not a news flash to the people in this room. Sometimes we can become so accustomed to it that we do not even realize how overwhelming it can be I remember one Winter Break, many years ago - when Shira and Josh were young, long before Helene was born - when my family went to New York City. There are many memories of that trip that I will carry with me always, and one of them was the profound wonder which Shira experienced when she saw so many places of business displaying menorahs in their windows as well as Christmas decorations. The public recognition of Hanukkah - the public recognition of any winter holiday other than Christmas - was completely outside of her then narrow realm of experience. To witness it on the streets of New York filled her with great joy and pride.
All that having been said, I wish to share with you my sense that this year, at this time of the year, for us as Jews, truly “‘tis the season to be jolly.” In this Christmas season, more than any in the past few years, we have good reason to rejoice - indeed to celebrate.
Why? Because this year, for the first time in several years, we have not had to endure that abominable “War on Christmas” campaign. After years of being attacked as the aspiring grinches who plot to steal Christmas from the “real Americans”, simply because we have pointed out that ours is a society of diversity, including religious diversity, and as such, we should demonstrate a respect for America’s wondrous religious diversity, for some miraculous reason, this year the “War on Christmas” war drums and battle cries have fallen remarkably and blessedly silent. Yes, of course, there have been some political ads and campaign rhetoric which have flirted, to a lesser or greater degree, with the “America is a Christian nation” ideology, but that is just a matter of presidential wanna-bes pandering to the crazy “Christians only are admitted into the Kingdom of Heaven” fringe groups. Aside from those political ads with crosses and Christmas trees and candidates spouting their commitment to Christian values, there has been little, if any, finger pointing at us non-Christians, accusing us of attempting to dismantle Christmas.
Indeed, without the “War on Christmas” bombast, this year our society has started to shift back to acknowledging and appreciating its diversity. We see it in simple, but very important, ways. For example, one day I walked into Best Buy and what did I see as soon as I entered the doors? Three enormous banners hanging from the ceiling - one saying “Happy Kwanza”, another saying “Merry Christmas” and the third saying “Happy Hanukkah”. Another time, I was in Borders and not only did I see Hanukkah themed gift cards but also a table display of Hanukkah gifts. Big deal? Right? Yes it is a big deal. For us as Jews - as members of a religious minority in this community - we must cherish every instance when someone goes out of their way to acknowledge our difference. We must be profoundly grateful whenever we encounter those who choose to view our religious differences with appreciation rather than as some sort of attack upon their faith.
But it is simply not enough for us to be relieved or grateful. We need to take these feelings to the next level. We need to show our gratitude. Ho w do we do that? Of course one way is to express our appreciation whenever we encounter such recognitions and celebrations of religious diversity. Tell the people at Best Buy “thank you for the multiple holiday banners.” Tell the people at Borders how meaningful you find their acknowledgment of Hanukkah. Every time that a cashier or one of the other staff in a store says to you “Happy Holidays” or some other such inclusive festive greeting, tell them thank you for their sensitivity to the fact that not all of us celebrate Christmas. And of course, when your own friends, acquaintances, and co-workers wish you a Happy Hanukkah, even though Hanukkah is passed, or offer you some generic holiday greeting, do not hesitate to wish them a Merry Christmas or a happy whatever they celebrate.
“Merry Christmas.” You know, even though we are Jewish, it is perfectly all right, and appropriate, to say it, as long as we are saying it to someone who celebrates Christmas. In fact, it is important for us to say it. For if we truly believe in diversity, then as we want our Christian neighbors to respect and help us celebrate our holidays, we are likewise obligated to respect and help them celebrate their holiday.
Indeed, one of the residual effects of the “War on Christmas” campaign is the impression that we non-Christians are opposed to Christmas; that we just don’t want other holidays recognized but that we want to do away with Christmas in our society. Now you know and I know that is simply not true, but many out there, they don’t know that. Therefore it becomes incumbent upon us to show our Christian neighbors that we truly do wish them a Merry Christmas; that it is as important for us that they get the most out of their holiday as we have gotten out of ours.
So I send you from this sanctuary this evening with a charge. Do not hesitate to spread Christmas cheer among the Christians you know and encounter. Do more than your part to maximize the joy of their holiday celebration. In so doing, you will be spreading the important message of mutual respect and you will be serving as role models of how people can profess different faiths yet support each other in the faith of their choice.
