So not everybody loves Santa in the Holy Land…
As you might have guessed, I’m very much in a celebrating Christmas mode. It’s not easy here in the Holy Land, as I’ve mentioned previously, but it’s part of my DNA and not something I’m ever likely to give up on…
And celebrating Christmas in Israel, or at least just getting a small glimpse of it in the form of a Christmas tree here or a bit of tinsel hanging there, is seemingly getting harder and harder.
It doesn’t help that there are even Jewish organizations that hunt down hotels and restaurants that may have decided to create a bit of a festive environment for their many tourist customers. Apparently, there is one organization called the “Lobby For Jewish Values” that is so against the mighty Chrimbo they pass out fliers and ads that name the offending establishments. Their fliers even refer to the “clownish atmosphere of the end of the civil year” and the “foolish symbols of Christianity”.
Their chairman, Ofer Cohen, even had this to say:
We are even considering publishing the names of the businesses that put up Christian symbols ahead of the Christian holiday and call for a boycott against them.
Oh dear. I really hope I’m not the only one who finds this ridiculous (though looking at the comments in this Ynet article discussing the organization I’m certainly in the minority). Their ultimate aim appears to be to strip these businesses of any kashrut certification, which will be damaging in so much that religious Jews will no longer eat/drink/sleep there.
I do wonder how much influence they actually hold over official rabbinate authorities that determine who holds kashrut certification (who apparently also check if an establishment is getting a bit too festive for their liking), but their simply existing is surely a slap in the face for the many, many Christian tourists who visit Israel?
I can certainly understand the feeling among many Jews who want nothing to do with Christmas, especially those who may have made aliyah to Israel from somewhere like a Christmas-overloaded US or Europe.
But surely the millions of Christians who hold the Holy Land dear and visit Israel deserve a little bit of tinsel and a little Christmas tree here and there. OK, so Santa’s Grotto in every shopping mall might be pushing it too far, but I see nothing religiously and spiritually damaging in a few bits of decoration…especially if it brings in a few much-needed tourist dollars.
And with that, I’m off to put some more tinsel on my tree, another paper-chain on the lampshade, and yes, the Christmas lights will be switched on at 4pm, instead of 6pm. In honor of the Lobby For Jewish Values!
Happy Christmas Israel!
About the Author: Ashley intended staying in Israel for a couple of months...18 years later, married to a local girl with 2 (er, make that 
Liza | Dec 21, 2009 | Reply
Well said, Ashley. You’d think these folks have nothing more pressing to do with their time than to perpetrate religious coercion and create problems for businesses that they probably wouldn’t visit anyway. It’s sickening.
Ashley | Dec 21, 2009 | Reply
Cheers Liza!
Sharon | Dec 21, 2009 | Reply
If we in the Christian USA did the same thing against Jewish establishments here when one of the Jewish Holidays rolled around, these same people would be the first to decry Anti-Semitism! But they turn around and do these things in their land which is practicing Anti-Christianism, and they justify it - hypocrites! If it was them in another country which rallied against their holidays, spit on their Rabbis, refuse to permit them to marry under their Jewish faith and would harrass them for being Jewish they would be screaming anti-semitism. But in their land, religious jews spit on Orthodox priests, harrass Messianic Jews who believe in Jesus, refuse other faiths (even their own Jewish people who aren’t Jewish enough) to get married in Israel and put down Christian holidays as you’ve just described. What kind of light unto the nations is that supposed to be. Sure, anti-semitism is wrong but they practice anti-Christianism in their land against us. Here in America, in December, we do not lead a crusade to ban Chanukah, nor businesses that sell menorah lamps or Jewish holiday symbols. Like I said…Hypocrites!
Ashley | Dec 21, 2009 | Reply
Am with you Sharon, but I should point out that this particular group is the first I’ve heard that is actively anti-Christian. Hopefully the last…
Ron | Dec 22, 2009 | Reply
I don’t think this has anything to do with Christmas or trees. The lobby for Jewish Values is working to impress other nutcase groups. The Rabbinate loves any chance to flex their muscles and push around restaurant owners. Those trees just happened to be there. I think Ofer Cohen should spend his spare time visiting shut-ins or something else more useful, tell him to give me a call, i will explain the word ” values” to him.
Sharon Dixon | Dec 22, 2009 | Reply
Thanks Ashley, I am a Christian and I care about Jewish people. I get indignant when people treat them wrong. I want the best for them & enjoy seeing them walking down the street on Saturdays, on their way to Synagogue. I longed with all my heart to come and help do anything I could, when they were going through the 2nd intifada, with egg on my face from people around me when I told them I wanted to go to Israel who only put down the idea. The worse the bombings, the more I wanted to come and help/support them. I cried to God for the people who was killed and wished more than anyone if I could break a steel chair over the devil’s head for hurting even a single one of them. How many times did I remind the Lord that He said He would bless those who blessed them and do in those who did them in. How many times did I daydream myself as Prime Minister of Israel and how I would enlarge their borders… not keep trying to give it away…build houses all over the place (AND WITH STORAGE & CLOSETS-I just had to add that in-smile), Have customer service to the people raised to a much greater level, bring up salaries, endevor to have banking fees and regulations reformed so people can AFFORD to have a checking account and can actually SAVE
Sharon Dixon | Dec 22, 2009 | Reply
…MONEY. Here in the USA we have a lot of banks that offer free-checking. You can have as many checking accounts as you want, start it with $25 or $50 then no minimum balance, unlimited ATM transactions, unlimited check writing, unlimited and no fee/cost transactions using your Debit/Credit card from the account, free mailed statements and/or online banking and accounting of your transactions, or you can call their 800 number and get any information on your account - ALL FREE. I imagined these kinds of banks to help them their instead of what I hear - being nickled and dimed for everything and people more than not living/banking in the red and being “fee’d” for every little thing. Ashley, my point is sometimes Jewish people think everybody hates them but that’s not true. I myself have borne a lot of trouble from people and devils whenever I have tried do good to help them in some way. I have wanted for the past 18 years to come to visit Israel and am still trying to get the finances to come. Then to hear of organizations like this doing what they do and saying insulting things about Christianity that they’ve said hurts, and I have to ask the Lord to cleanse my heart and help me not to forgive and not bear a grudge. But don’t worry. The Lord is faithful He’ll keep my heart clean. (I just wish He do something scrubbing in theirs too - smile!)
Sharon Dixon | Dec 22, 2009 | Reply
I’m sorry Ashley, I meant to say in the last e-mail that I have to ask the Lord to cleanse my heart and help me TO FORGIVE AND NOT BEAR A GRUDGE.
Sharon DIxon | Dec 23, 2009 | Reply
Ha! - Tell it like it is Ron! I’m going to buy you a microphone with a loud speaker!
john | Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
sharon, you seem a bit off your rocker.
Sharon Dixon | Dec 30, 2009 | Reply
John, it I’m off my rocker, you must’ve been the one who pushed me.