Jesus had it easy Christmas overshadows Jews in December

With Christmas fast approaching, Catholics and other Christians are anticipating the holiday with joy. Throughout the weeks leading up to the holiday, the Christmas theme resounds.

But what about those who do not celebrate Christmas? 

Indeed, the month of December also features Hanukkah, the Jewish Feast of Lights that lasts eight days and commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 165 B.C.

But in a predominantly Christian society, the feast, albeit a minor one on the Jewish calendar, gets little or no attention.

Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, who has cultivated strong relations with the Jewish community in the Capital Region and is often heralded by Jews for his efforts, acknowledged that latter-day Hebrews can easily feel left out during the seasons of Advent and Christmas.

The Jewish Jesus 
"Obviously the Jewish community is a minority in the U.S. and I suspect it is very difficult for Jewish parents when the culture around them is celebrating Christmas and that is not part of their culture," he said. The issue resonates among Catholics, who reiterate Christ's Jewish heritage and the shaping influence of Judaism on our religion. 
This is especially true among families with children whose Christian friends may be engaged in gift-giving, tree decoration and other merriment. There is a counterpart, to some extent: Jewish children often receive small gifts each night of Hanukkah, which begins this year on Dec. 22.

Meredith Gould, author of "Come to the Table: A Catholic Passover Seder for Holy Week" and "The Catholic Home," was born and raised Jewish. She has since been baptized Catholic, but treasures her Jewish heritage.

"What was, and remains, difficult is to be confronted with the ongoing Christian cultural hegemony - a fancy-pants way of saying it's woefully astounding to behold how Christians think they are the only ones on the planet at this time of year."

For her, the way some Christians take credit for the holiday pushes the wrong button.

"I would love to hear a homily that acknowledged and appreciated Judaism and didn't use the passages from Isaiah as a platform to say 'See?,'" she said. 

Stephen Leibo of Albany, who is Jewish and a professor at The Sage Colleges, feels that, locally, insensitivity is not really an issue.

"I think there's enough diversity living in the Capital Region that you don't have the sense of feeling left out," he explained. 

At a seminar on interreligious issues in 2007, Mr. Leibo called the modern celebration of Hanuk-kah a form of vaccination against the prevailing Christianity.

Making nice
For Catholics, Bishop Hub-bard suggested a degree of reserve and perspective. 
"We who are in the majority should be sensitive to the fact that our celebrations not be insensitive to others," Bishop Hubbard said. "We should always seek to increase tolerance."

In terms of what Christians can do to be more respectful, Ms. Gould suggested a simple acknowledgement would suffice.

"Say 'Happy Hanukkah' but be cautious about saying that because the [branches] of Judaism view the holiday differently. Consider giving a Jewish friend the gift of a nice dreidel, chocolate coins, or donuts - all traditional."

Mr. Leibo felt that it was not so much about the respective holidays, but just respecting other people's beliefs.

"I think it's not so much a Christian/Jewish thing, but more focus needs to be made on Hindus and Muslims," he explained. "There's so much diversity now."

Both Ms. Gould and Mr. Leibo also pointed out the insignificance of Hanukkah on the Jewish calendar: "It's not a holy day by any stretch of the imagination," she said. 

"I think they and/or we just get weary of it all," Meredith Gould said. "Trust me, it's worse during Easter!"

(12/18/08)