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!