Sermon by Rabbi Denise L. Eger, December 19, 2005

Shabbat Shalom

Have you heard that Bill O’Reilly and others have declared that there is a War on Christmas? They contend that the de-christianizing of the Christmas season is a frontal, organized attack on their religion and American Values. So no more Happy Holidays—or Season’s Greetings - only Merry Christmas. And the Christian Right Wing—even excoriated President Bush whose White House Christmas Card said Happy Holidays and quoted a verse from the book of Psalms rather than Christian Scriptures!

This time of year is difficult for us Jews. And especially when Chanukah and Christmas coincide as they do this year on the same day. So the first Candle will be on the Night of Christmas. It is I think difficult because Christmas is so pervasive. You can’t escape it. The music in the stores and the ever-present decorations make it all Noel all the time.
For some of you this might present no problem at all. In fact I imagine for some of you this is more “fun” or “Festive”. Under the heading of the more reasons to celebrate, the better. Let’s face it –we Jews with our “sorry little” dreidles can never compete with the giant lush pine-scented Christmas trees, jolly Santas, and stockings stuffed so cozily on the mantel. Well eight nights of drippy wax candles, and a few fried latkes that aren’t so good for your heart—can’t compete with yule logs, egg nog with brandy, candy canes, and gingerbread houses under those trees with cute little lion-l trains chugging through the miniature towns.
For some of us—the onslaught of Christmas means that it is a constant reminder of our otherness. That we Jews—no matter how much we try will never really be fully a part of the majority culture.
And yet, for others of us Chanukah is an amazing season of miracles. A reminder that a few dedicated souls can and do make a difference. That just as the Maccabees fought injustice and hatred we too can be inspired to do the same. So this season has an important message for us as well. A different message than Christmas –but an important and inspiring message for us Jews. And particularly important in the face of this attack. Because the story of Chanukah challenged those who would keep us from practicing our religion. And indeed that is a part of what is happening here today.
At the heart of this newest “Faux” debate about an attack on Christmas is I am afraid an older threat. Especially as Chanukah and 12 days of Christmas overlap this year. Certain Christians in this country have taken to playing the victim. As if somehow this was ancient Rome and they were still being thrown to the lions in the Coliseum, rather than the majority culture. But the truth is that Christianity in America still looms largest. This is truly a false war—and a false claim that they are under attack. What is happening however is that as America has become even more diverse—it is hard for the majority culture to make room at their holiday table. Some just don’t like to share. As the media and technology have opened up the world and our American world to many different ways of thinking and being—the monolithic worldview that once held sway over all – That December is Christmas Season-- must share space now with other traditions and other holidays. And so we are seeing and hearing a bit of a backlash and a lot of whining.
To me it seems that the threat of who killed Jesus is lurking just behind their questions. The threat of Anti-Semitism is hanging on to the periphery in their pounding about “the Holiday Season.” Let me explain why.
When John Gibson and Bill O’Reilly say they want everyone to be wished Merry Christmas and that this is the Christmas Season not the holiday season—They are really saying that Christmas should take precedent. As you and I know Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus—the savior to the Christians. And they would say the world. Christians view his birth as a good and holy thing and presumably John Gibson and Bill O’Reilly view this as a good thing. So when they wish me—a Jew –or you a Jew, “Merry Christmas”—are they merely sharing their joy of the season with me? Or is there a bit of a presumption that I too should celebrate the birth of the Messiah—or their messiah?
And thus behind their declaration is the idea that because I do not celebrate the birth of their Messiah—they want to suggest that somehow I am responsible for the downfall of our America. For they blame this “War on Christmas” on those who would do in America and American values. Because in their worldview of majority rules, Christian values are synonymous with American values. Now often they try to amend those to say Judeo-Christian values but the truth is when it comes to Christmas—we Jews have no stake in the discussion. So when we Jews—who demand our equal share of the American pie, and indeed are entitled to it—are not explicitly painted as a threat although that is indeed the implication behind their words.
The John Gibson’s of Fox News—don’t explicitly name Jews—they talk about the threat from secular humanists. They talk about atheists. But lets be clear –they mean everyone who doesn’t believe like they do and celebrate the birth of their Messiah—and that includes us.
But the truth is the real culprit is the Almighty Dollar. The real beef that O’Reilley and Gibson should have is with corporate America who has turned the Christmas Season/Holiday Season into a buying frenzy—and gift giving addiction. This is the real perpetrator among us. The drive to buy more, and give gifts to everyone for simply doing their job fuels this frenzy of Consumerism. I am no Scrooge but it seems to me that most of the attack on Christmas comes not from other communities that celebrate or want to acknowledge their holy days and holidays but from the corporations who tie their financial well being into a push for year end profits. The attack on Christmas comes from corporate greed which is the antithesis of religious values of sharing with others.
If we kept the focus on this season on all of our religious ideals –rather than the monetary ones—all of us would have a happier and indeed, healthier season.
My Christian family and friends I have no problem with. I wish them a Merry Christmas and have even been known to toast them with a drop of egg nog myself. But I do so fully knowing that I respect their religious celebration as they do mine. They don’t try to force me to follow their belief system nor I force them to follow theirs.
This time of year has always been a time of holidays that focus on light in the midst of darkness—certainly that is one of the messages of Chanukah- The Festival of Lights. This too is the message of Winter Solistice celebration and Diwali—the Hindu celebration of Light, and is a component of Kawaanza as well. Christmas too calls upon the birth of Jesus as the Light of the world.
If Bill and John and others would merely stop and focus on bringing light into the world rather than hype and hate—indeed it would be a happier, merrier time for us all.

Happy Holidays—to you and yours.
Shabbat Shalom.