Jews Speak Up for Christmas

Once terribly divided, Jews and Christians are finding the walls between them coming down and a new unity, primarily for two reasons.

Number one because Christians, mostly conservative, seem to be the only ones standing with Israel these days. As recently demonstrated, those standing in solidarity with the Jews who were deported out of their homes and land in Gaza by their own government were mostly American Jews and Christians. As my friend, Avi Lipkin says, "Jews are finding that Christians are their only friends."

Number two because of the mutually held concern over the violation of religious freedom that is increasing in America, Jews, again primarily conservative, are standing with Christians over the assault against Christmas and discrimination against Christianity as a whole, something they know alot about.

Rabbi Aryeh Spero, of Caucus for America and a guest on my show, talked about what's at stake in the battle over Christmas, and why Jews need to speak up for Christmas. His articles on the subject are worthy reads, such as "This Christmas Don't Let Them Turn Off the Lights," "Once Upon a Time When American Had Christmas" and "Our Battle for the Soul of America." Ted Belman Editor of Israpundit is another Jew speaking up for Christmas.

Barry Farber's article Jews for Christmas had a surprising effect on me. He is so bold in his advocacy for "a vigorous movement of American Jews rising up to make sure nobody pushes around those Christians whose ancestors decided, for the first time in history, to make a unique wonderland like America, where nobody gets pushed around because of his God-loving ways," that it made me realize, on an emotional level, that not only has it become open season on Christians, but that we have been standing alone, until recently.

Farber went on to write, "Never in history, not until America, did a people overwhelmingly of one religion ever conquer a continent and then turn around and invite the world to “Come on over and help us make this place great!” And while they were at it, they made sure every newcomer was free to worship God in his chosen way. If the emcee at a brotherhood banquet said that and then said, 'Let’s hear it for those Christians who started this particular America!' would you fail to applaud?" That's a powerful question.

In a growing supposedly 'tolerance-led' society, people are concerned about offending everyone from homosexuals to illegal aliens as you know, but how many are concerned about offending Christians? What are we, chopped liver?

Happily not to a growing number of Jews, such as Don Feder, President of Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation, which was organized earlier this year because, as Don Feder said, "We understand that Christians are the last remaining obstacle to the moral deconstruction of America. Christians are under assault because of the values they embrace. But the morality of Christianity is also the morality of Judaism. By maintaining their loyalty to the eternal values revealed at Sinai, Christians have become pariahs in the eyes of the establishment but heroes in our eyes." Heroes? Wow. It's been a long time since I've heard or read something like that.

Christmas for Christians is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, "who has broken down every wall" so that peace on earth and goodwill to all men may become a reality. Now, what can be so offensive about that?

© Sharon Hughes 2005.
If you are interested in hearing my interview with Rabbi Aryeh Spero you can do so here: Hear today's show (See 12/5/05)