Posted on 12/11/2006 5:52:47 PM PST by Mr. Mulliner
Well here we go again. It is so utterly predictable. Like clockwork. It’s December and time for another skirmish in the annual battle against Christmas. What compels me to comment is that this time it's not the usual secular fanatic who's responsible for doing things that evict Christianity from the culture. No, on this sad and alarming occasion it's a deeply religious, well-intentioned rabbi who has unwittingly stumbled into a situation that will place his denomination (and mine) —Orthodox Judaism— in a terrible, negative light.
For at least ten years, Sea-Tac Airport near Seattle has displayed several large, beautifully decorated Christmas trees each December. With lawyer in tow, a local rabbi recently threatened to sue the Port of Seattle if the airport didn't add a Chanukah menorah to the holiday display.
Yielding to the ultimatum was not an option for airport management, skittish at the best of times since 9-11. Understandably, they interpreted the rabbi’s threat as only the first. It would not be hard to imagine Seattle’s Islamic community stepping forward with their own lawyer to demand a Moslem symbol be included as well.
With deft turn of phrase, Sea-Tac public affairs manager Terri-Ann Betancourt explained that at the busiest travel time of the year, while Sea-Tac was focused on getting passengers through the airport, she and her staff didn’t have time “to play cultural anthropologists.”
Threatening a lawsuit, I feel, violates the Jewish principle known in Hebrew as Kiddush HaShem, interpreted in the Talmud, part of ancient Jewish wisdom, as an action that encourages people to admire Jews. One need only read the comments on the Internet following the news accounts of the tree removal, to know that most people are feeling indignant and hurt. They certainly are not feeling more warmly toward Jews as a result of this mess.
Here I disclose that I know the rabbi involved, am friendly with him, and am sure that he didn’t intend this outcome. I like him, which makes it painful for me to point out that when one throws a punch (which is what bringing a lawyer and threatening to sue is equivalent to) and one gets decked in return, one cannot plead that one didn’t intend that outcome.
The outcome, whether intended or not, is that now vast numbers of passengers, most of whom are probably Christian, will be deprived of the cheerful holiday sight of pretty Christmas trees. What is more, they will know that their deprivation was caused by a Jewish rabbi. The rabbi’s lawyer told a television reporter, “There is a concern here that the Jewish community will be portrayed as the Grinch.”
No, Mr. Lawyer, it is not that Jews will be “portrayed” as the grinch. Sadly, now we are the grinch. You made us the grinch.
Now what is to be done? I have three requests:
I am asking every reader of this column to sign a petition on the Toward Tradition website beseeching Sea-Tac management to restore the Christmas trees.
I am asking every reader of this column to forward it to others who might be willing to sign this petition.
I am asking Jews in the Puget Sound region to join national radio host, Michael Medved, and me in offering our volunteer labor to Sea-Tac. We hope they will allow us to provide the labor necessary for replacing the trees so that airport staff need not be deflected from their important duties.
Bears repeating.
Yup. I said that earlier today on another thread and a newbie signed on just to call me Goebels.
LOL!
What are you doing up so late? :)
Trying to decide if I'm going to stay up all night so I can make my grandson's Christmas pageant at 9 a.m.
:-)
I guess it depends on how long it takes you to get ready and how far you have to drive to get there. That's 8 hours away your time. :)
It's a saying meaning that his apology is a day late
If he wanted a menorah perhaps he should have spent the dollars for one and then given it to the airport.
Hence,
a day late and a dollar short.
No, Rabbi Daniel, it is not the lawyer who turned you into the Grinch. The lawyer did not force your friend to file the suit.
Our sensibilities ought to be tempered with tolerance so that we can once again become a community. I have no problems with symbols of Christmas or Hanukkah....or Halloween. Actually, I welcome them gladly and cherish the spirit in which they are celebrated and passed on to the future generations.
Kids love Christmas and Hanukkah and Halloween, and the Fourth of July and Easter and New Years Eve, just as we do and did in the past. These celebrations should never be taken from them, any of them. If only the adult generation appreciates its traditions will they endure; if only the adults would just grow up.
.....Tonight, Port of Seattle staff began putting up the trees they had taken down Friday night.....
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003473083_webtrees11.html
The Jews and Christians better stick together. The big fight is on the way and we are going to need all the help we can get.
You bow down to the Jews....then the muslims...then who else?
I have nothing but admiration for the Jews, but come on. Christmas is a Christian holiday. Demanding a menorah is like a child having a temper tantrum.
Let the Christians have their holiday, for Pete's sake!
Bookmark and thanks for the link. Will read in the a.m. I've been painting for a week and I'm beat. :)
Interesting post.
The rabbi said his religion doesn't allow him to have contact with the media on the Sabbath. Not commenting, just reporting what he said.
Agree!
Actually, I think the Rabbi that started this, is part of a group that does just that.
Did A Lone Rabbi Mean to Ban Christmas Trees?
They’ve already succeeded in magnificent terms in installing some 6,000 highly visible menorahs in public places across the country (including, by the way, the Washington State Capitol in Olympia) – and even at unlikely sites like Red Square in Moscow.
and see post #82 from this thread for pictures:
I agree.
Thanks for the post. I like Rabbi Lapin. He's a good guy.
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