Jewish Scene
Jewish lobby wages war on Christmas trees
Ari Galhar
Published: 08.12.09, 07:51
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1. inciteful title
mordechai taub ,   jerusalem   (12.08.09)
It seems the title of the article was chosen to incite hate between Jews and those that celebrat Christmas. The text of the article showed there is no such tension. In the spirit of the holiday season, I hope that Ynet is more careful in the future.
2. religius coercion
Avi ,   israel   (12.08.09)
religious coercion rears its ugly head again. There are many christians coming to Israel for christmas and if a christmas tree is meaningfull for them, then whats the big deal. Why are the religious jews that insecure. At least at christmas people have fun and spread good will to all mankind unlike the ultra orthadox who only seem to be full of hatred not only to their fellow jews but also to any others who are not jewish. Good reminder i think we will go out and get a christmas tree this year as thankyou very much but i dont want anything to do with Jewish religion.
3. Foolish symbols?
Patrick ,   Haifa   (12.08.09)
That's an utterly disgraceful way to say it... entirely unnecessary and the idiot that wrote it should be ashamed of himself... disgusting biggot. Keep looking at others in such a light... keep asking yourselves why others don't look at you in a favourable light.
4. foolish symbol of chritianity???
ghostq   (12.08.09)
those orthodox rabbis that adopted the david star witch is pagan symbol sould talk.
5. Xmas trees are pagan invention, not Xtian
Zion   (12.08.09)
6. "Foolish Symbols of Christianity"
NYC Girl   (12.08.09)
If the members of this so-called Jewish lobby actually believe their attempt to cleanse the country of Christian and secular symbols is going to benefit Israel in any way whatsoever, they've got another thing coming. Their demeaning comments, and coercive tactics, are insulting and bigoted, and will needlessly offend those Christians who travel to Israel, as well as the ones who live there. When will these people get it through their heads that Israel is NOT a theocracy (nor exclusively Jewish for that matter) and the majority of Israelis resent being dictated to by this hyper-religious mafia that constitutes only a small minority of the population. In fact, it's people like these who are the reason I've heard Israelis make comments about religious Jews that were so hateful, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. And these weren't Israelis who were on the far left. They've all served in the military, some in elite units. But their level of animosity is a direct result of exactly the sort of ultra-Orthodox intolerance and fanaticism that was exhibited in this article.
7. re #1
Matt   (12.08.09)
Did you read the article? They are "waging war" on Christmas. They are urging the City's Religious Council to revoke kashrut of hotels that decorate for Christmas. They describe Christmas as a "clownish atmosphere" and "the foolish symbols of Christianity". If that were a Christian minister in America speaking of Jewish holidays in that way and calling for a ban on Chanuka menorahs I am sure you would be so sanguine.
8. Jewish values. What about tolerance?
Jewish ,   Secular   (12.08.09)
9. Christmas trees
Christian ,   Sweden   (12.08.09)
Please, don't make to much noise about the Christmas trees. They are in fact modern secular Christian symbols with no religious contents. It is only a nicely decorated tree.Those decorations have mostly nothing to do with Christian faith.
10. when i see a christmas tree in israel
mike ,   israel (formerly usa   (12.08.09)
when i see a christmas tree here, my thought is that whoever put it up at least maybe doesn't hate me. i don't think for a second that such a person believes what i believe, or even encourages my belief. it is just what that person chose to do, just like the people who want to ban christmas trees - it's a free country. be free to be free or be free to fear and hate.
11. to #9 indeed, well said.
ghostq   (12.08.09)
12. good-we made alia from USA to get away
(12.08.09)
from the overpowering Xstms "cheer" -we, the america jews dont identify with this symbology or holiday and the last thing we want to see in dec is a symbol of goim being stuffed down our throats-most of us dont want to be reminded of it on every corner and for sure NOT in the hotels. Light hanuka candles-stick them on every corner and in every hotel and restaurant-let the goim who come here for xstmas experience OUR holiday on OUR land-and not try to kiss their asses with displaying thier symbols.
13. I LOVE CHRISTMAS and its music
Israeli 2   (12.08.09)
and Jingle bells and santa claus and the red nose reindeer. What harm can come from that? Oh yes!! I am a religious Jew! I also love Chanuka.
14. Most of those restaurants
Charles ,   Petach Tikva   (12.08.09)
are maybe not even kosher . Regarding the civil New Year , why not have another occasion to rejoyce ? why not have another occasion to wish family and friends a good Year ?
15. THANK YOU, RABBIS!!!!!
Debbie ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (12.08.09)
Please do make a list. I will join the boycott!! I didn't sacrifice everything to come to Israel in order to live in a sorry copy of little America. NO TO XMAS IN THE JEWISH STATE!!
16. Most (all) secular Israelis have no idea what Christmas mean
M   (12.08.09)
Celebrations of Christmas are for the birth of christianity, (Christ=messiah in Greek). Why would a Jewish state (it still is) celebrate the religion that hunted us like animals for 2000 years with pogroms, torture, inquisition and Holocaust (millions of Jews dead)? It's not the Disney's jolly Santa and beautiful tree with gifts, it's the meaning behind. People should think deeper than the surface of the eye
17. #15 Debbie ever heard of tollerance
Avi ,   israel   (12.08.09)
Obviously you are so insecure that the sight of a charismas tree causes you doubt over your religious observance. Hate to break it to you but we have Christians living in this country apparently they weren’t all thrown to the lions, and we also have Christian tourists coming to Jerusalem for the holiday. Jerusalem is the center for not only Jews but Christians and Muslims. Therfore should the white house cancel its Chanuka ceremony and remove any signs of Judaism? Apparently understanding and respect for other people from other cultures is not part of your vocabulary. Maybe you should have stayed in the US as we have enough religious biggots here thanks debs.
18. #13 good for you
Avi ,   israel   (12.08.09)
nice to hear there are tollerent decent understaning people still left in this country. Happy Holidays
19. #12 Shameful words
Patrick ,   Haifa   (12.08.09)
Those truly are shameful words. That you can't even bring yourself to type the word Christmas speaks volumes about you and that's not even the worst of what you've written. How would you like to read a comment on the Fox news site, made by a reader, responding to a story about the displaying of a hanukkiah which reads, "No to having J*w holidays stuffed down our throats"? I'm sure you'd be outraged, as I would... as I am. I'm sure that in your years in the US you met many good people, amonsgt them non Jews. How would they feel about your use of the word goim here? You probably didn't make your hatred of them so obvious to their faces. Do you expect them all to be making such remarks about you and your family behind your back leading up to Hanuka? If you care so little about them and their kind why do you think they should ever give a rats ass about you and yours? I'll be lighting Hanuka candles thorughout the holiday and I'll be doing it knowing that I harbour no hatred in my heart to any of G*ds children.
20. #4 THE STAR HAS SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE
......DACON9   (12.08.09)
SPIRITUALY TO KING DAVID WHO HAS FASHIONED IT ACCORDING TO THE HEAVENS DESIGN, NOT TO KING DAVIDS WHIM. YOUR IGNORANCE IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO GET A LAUGH FROM
21. #7 THE MENORA AND THE MEZUZAH
....DACON9   (12.08.09)
#7 THE MENORA AND THE MEZUZAH MEZUZAH IS THE LITTLE WRITINGS SIZE OF A PENCIL PUT ON THE DOORPOST... IS BANNED IN MANY AMERICAN CONDOMINIUM COMMUNITIES THE AMERICAN FLAG IS BANNED ON DONALD TRUMPS PROPERTY IN FLORIDA AND YOU SHOULD BE BANNED FROM HUMANITY
22. #6 WHAT ABOUT THE MAJORITY OF XTIANS PROSLYTIZING IN ISRAEL
....DACON9   (12.08.09)
23. Wowee, and I know all the christmas carols by heart but
a b(m)issel toe   (12.08.09)
that does not mean I want to see krutzmach trees in Zara. In Primark I dont mind, however lol. Avnat PT doesnt have any of course, we are thankfully nothing like ramat aviv jimmel and the clones areas of that place. Matter of breeding darlings, you either have it or you don't lol. I'm away in a manger so dont bother me, unless you're Dean Martin or Bing Crosby crooning seasonal songs. Susan Boyle sings some beautifully, on her top selling disc, and ends the disc with Silent Night, just yummy and highly recommended.
24. response to Matt
mordechai taub ,   jerusalem   (12.08.09)
Thank you for pointing out that I was not clear in my earlier comment. The incitement involved here is taking comments in a flyer by an organization which is unknown to the public and probably does not exist and associating those comments with the Jerusalem Rabbinate and the mainstream Jewish community in Jerusalem.
25. the tree of life
cristian ,   bs as arg   (12.08.09)
the saviour was born as it was written and the whole world now knows his name , the tree of life is ready to be revealed in zion,the earth and heaven will pass but the word of the lord is gonna live forever.
26. to #15 just imagin what jews would do
ghostq   (12.08.09)
if in the USA jews were forbiding to use the Menora, oh you would call them anti semetic.
27. Bending over backwards
mordechai ,   NY   (12.08.09)
Why do we (Jews) have to bend over backwards for everyone else. from our point of view, Christians have nothing to do with Israel (save the crusaders), they can take their symbols somewhere else.
28. LISTEN to this Russian-American Oleh
Greg ,   Rishon   (12.08.09)
For former USSR Jews, "Christmas" isn't a religious holiday. It was fused during the Soviet times with the New Year to create a totally unique holiday - Novi God. The tree is not a Christmas tree, but a NEW YEAR TREE. Santa Claus is actually FATHER WINTER. There is nothing Christian about it at all. It's like the French celebrating Bastille Day. We Russian Jews know the difference between Christmas and Novi God, and we don't celebrate Christmas. Please, let us have our secular custom, which is a family holiday for us and has nothing to do with Christianity.
29. Is that all the Jewish lobby knows is war?
Rich ,   Toronto, Canada   (12.08.09)
Now they hate Christmas trees. There seems to be no limits to their hatred. Where is the tolerance and flexibility in thinking? No Jew should be forced to comply to the wishes of these religious extremists.
30. #26 - In some parts of US, Menorah IS banned
William ,   Israel   (12.08.09)
Outside Boston, in a town called Chelmsford, some atheists are raising a stink and want everything tied to religion banned. They petition to ban Christmas-like items from the local highschool Christmas shop which raises money for their programs. Buses are now appearing with ads on them telling people G-d is not necessary. Menorahs are less banned but they do get sucked into a blanket ban by the .001% of a community that is insecure. Kwanzaa and Ramadan are still ok. This is today's America and it ain't pretty!
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