A Jewish view of a Christmas in Bethlehem
Joel Fischer, a friend of several Catholic Light contributors (and a man who likes his firearms, God bless him) wrote this about the recent Christmas celebrations, or lack thereof, in Bethlehem. He’s a thoughful guy as you will see below. I offer it for your enjoyment.
I recently read an article posted on the FoxNews.com Web site, dated Dec. 24, “With Israel in Control, a ‘Sad Christmas’ in Bethlehem.”
Being a Jew of Eastern European descent, I learned early on in life the horrors of the Holocaust, blind hatred, and intolerance. Yet, l also learned the stories of those who refused to give in to the evil hands of the Nazis and their collaborators. I learned, too, of so many anonymous heroes who risked their own lives, and lives of loved ones, to protect those hunted by the Nazis.
I find it altogether disturbing that clerical leaders around the world, in Bethlehem specifically, should assert such lamentations at the presence of Israeli troops in the birth town of Jesus. Just the other evening, my wife and I were watching public programming that told the stories of those who survived Nazi death camps, Russian pogroms, and the anti-Semitic hands of their fellow villagers. The tones of their stories were uplifting, however. They told of families, friends, and total strangers, alone or banded together, risking all to observe the Sabbath- argued by some to be the holiest Jewish holiday, despite its weekly recurrence. They jeopardized their lives and the lives of other individuals, other families, and entire villages. Those people, with nothing more than their love of, and devotion to, God, made it a point to never let a Sabbath or other holiday pass without observance and reverence.
To sympathize with the priests of Bethlehem, focusing on what Christmas this year is NOT, and who in my opinion should be celebrating what Christmas IS, belittles the very spirit of Christmas. Dr. Seuss, in his hallowed classic, “How The Grinch Stole Christmas,” illustrated this point so beautifully. When the Grinch made off with the presents (and everything else indicative of the holiday, for that matter), of all those living in Who-ville, believing that this would thwart the coming of Christmas to their village, what happened? Was the Grinch victorious? Absolutely not! He found the citizens of Who-ville in a great circle, hand-in-hand, and singing songs! The Grinch learned a big lesson on that day, and I ask the clergy of Bethlehem, “What lessons are you trying to teach?”
Is the celebration of the birth of your Lord and Savior not cause enough to shed the doldrums brought upon by the presence of soldiers and militants? Shouldn’t’t this most special of seasons be used to rise up, celebrate, and cheer in opposition to such a forbidding environment? Should this opportunity not be used to place a flower in the barrel of a rifle, as the weary, peace-loving college student did at Kent State? Apparently not, as the article explains:
“With few pilgrims, no light-laden tree in Manger Square, and no bells and music, Bethlehem was less than festive. Although Israeli soldiers withdrew to the outskirts to allow celebrations to take place, locals said they could not remember a sadder Christmas.
“Protesting the presence of troops, town leaders canceled all Christmas festivities except religious observances.”
I ask again, “What is the lesson being taught here? What is your message to the world?” My interpretation is this: Times are rough, so point fingers, and bewail the predicament. I know that this is not what Jesus would have in mind for his followers.
I submit that these leaders of their congregations and denominations should have instead taken the opportunity to ring in Christmas as never before. Announcing to the world that no homicide bombing, no tank, no grenade, no rocket launcher, no hatred, no politics, would impede the joyous celebration of Christmas in 2002.