Posted on 12/11/2006 7:21:34 AM PST by NavyCanDo
The departure of Christmas tree displays at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport — the Port of Seattle's response to a local rabbi's insistence that an electric menorah also be put up — is accelerating into an international spectacle in the so-called "war on Christmas."
And that is not what Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky wanted.
"I am devastated, shocked and appalled at the decision that the Port of Seattle came to," he said Sunday. As news coverage about the airport's trees spread from CNN to ABC to the Paris-based International Herald Tribune, Bogomilsky on Sunday began to receive hateful messages from people holding him responsible for the removal of the trees.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
I'm confident that Rabbi Lapin's efforts are sincere. He has better sense than a lot of folks.
In fact I have heard him on the radio often, and believe he is a good and honorable man.
But nothing can change the fact that this incident has been spun twenty ways from Tuesday. For instance for anyone to call the folks at the airport "cowards", and to imply that for some reason this is all their fault.
And to hear the type of statement that "we just wanted to add light to the season..." seems like even more spin. If the Rabbi had offered along with his "suggestion" about the menorah to give JUST ONE SINGLE POOR CHRISTIAN FAMILY A TREE, then I might believe him.
But this is more of the "My way or no way" philosophy that we see much too often in our society.
And it's sad. It's sad because I can imagine there will be a little less light in the eyes of children going through the airport this year. It's sad because some folks might be going back for a family reunion that hasn't happened for years, and I think without the trees there, they have in some sense been deprived of something.
Instead, it will be just another day of frustration, fighting your way through the ticket lines, the security, the screaming kids, the lost luggage...
But not a season of hope and foregiveness.
Not Christmas.
"You didn't answer my question....do Jews go to Synaogogue on Hannukah like they do on Yom Kippur??"
It's typically celebrated at home with family and friends.
Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashonah are typically considered "high holy days" in Judiasm, but like I said, I don't ever remember seeing a 25% off Yom Kippur sale. ;)
"When I was in college, my frat was across the street from the CHABAD House, (The jerks who sued about the Christmas Trees)."
Chabad are the leading Jewish Orthodox group. Calling the entire group "Jerks" is pretty silly, ESPECIALLY since most Orthodox Jews are politically conservative in the US. At least the ones I have met!
Still, the sign thing is funny. I never thought about that. I wouldn't be surprised if the Chabadniks thought it was funny, too. At least some of them.
"I don't believe that GOD will care for what is written in the Talmud or the Koran or any other teachings that is not in his written word."
The New Testament was written by men....
#7 is better translated as "You Shall Not Murder." The Torah specifies a number of cases in which killing a bad guy is warranted.
"Jesus said the greatest commandment is to Love your GOD with all your heart all your mind"
It's might not mind, and I think Jesus read that in Deuteronomy, first. ;)
If Christians followed the whole verse, they'd also wear tfillin and put a Mezuzah on their door. ;)
"And to hear the type of statement that "we just wanted to add light to the season..." seems like even more spin. If the Rabbi had offered along with his "suggestion" about the menorah to give JUST ONE SINGLE POOR CHRISTIAN FAMILY A TREE, then I might believe him."
You are gonna have to debate that one with TaraP on this thread who is convinced that a Christmas Tree is a "secular symbol."
Jews are God's own people.
Necessary that.
Got too little smarts to make it on their own.
Too skillful at pissing off others.
Christmas Tree is a "secular symbol."
Well officially it is, but we use it during the month of December as a symbol of Christmas,just like people will call a rabbit a Easter Rabbit during Easter but after Easter he goes back to *Rabbit* Now I know this sounds pretty simple but on a religious scale rabbits and Pine trees although created by GOD are secular symbols.
"Well officially it is, but we use it during the month of December as a symbol of Christmas,just like people will call a rabbit a Easter Rabbit during Easter but after Easter he goes back to *Rabbit* Now I know this sounds pretty simple but on a religious scale rabbits and Pine trees although created by GOD are secular symbols."
In other words, this time of year it ISN'T a secular symbol.
Here's an idea. Put up your Holiday Tree for the Fourth of July. Then it can be a secular symbol. This time of year it isn't, which was exactly my point earlier.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Okay here we have strength instead of might...
Now Jesus was the inspiration for the verse in the first place, since I believe the trinity Jesus, GOD and Holy Spirit as one entity: Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
Our Image-human being=Jesus Christ
Okay GITP
*Man* wrote the bible with the inspiration of the Creator does that mean every single verse through translation has not been misread or mis wrote well I am sure to some degree it has, nevertheless The Ten Commandments were given straight to Moses from GOD Almighty and Jesus always said he came to fullfill the law not break it..
What Jesus did do IMO that infuriated many in his community was point out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees for one who thought they were perfect as they followed Torah, did not break the sabbath etc...But where was thier compassion for thier fellow man??? the Samaritans?,the Lepors? the sick and mentally challenged? Jesus came for those folks, who truly needed hope, love, charity (Same thing as today)Jesus pointed out to many in his communities what Good is it that you follow the law but shun your neighbors?? Jesus spoke on the Temple Mount saying *Is thier any challenge in loving people like you? or that love you? *NO* the challenge is loving people not like you or that hate and persecute you, this message translates to people across the globe in our world today...
Can you imagine GITP how cold and callous people would be today if Jesus never came to earth? IMO it would be a far more tough world to exsist in....
Smiles from Tara...:)
This is what I really feel and mean about Christmas....
Christmas trees, Santa Claus, decorations, exchanging gifts, and the many other seasonal traditions that most of us observe are wonderful ways for family and friends to mark this time of year.
What we must all take care to remember is that these customs, enjoyable as they are, ultimately have nothing to do with the true meaning of Christmas.
The true meaning of Christmas -- the "reason for the season" -- is found only in the message of the gospel.
Here it is, so beautifully encapsulated in John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Amen...
The rabbi that sued is a jerk. And anyone who decides to buy a old sorority on a city block with seven fraternities on it, and put their regional headquarters there, is just plain stupid.
I didn't say it was not important or meaningful. Even Jewish people do not consider Hannukah one of their truly holy days. Lighten up (and no pun intended). If you celebrate it, then G-d's blessings to you, but keep it in perspective. It doesn't nearly come close to the miracle of Jesus' birth.
Your response to me made no sense. I posted that Hanukkah is not considered a holy day so there should not be a comparison to Christmas. You are asking me why I'm comparing. I've never understood how people seem to put them side-by-side; the only reason I can think of is they are close together on the calendar and that's the only comparison I see.
Suzy - thank you so much for that post. Government doesn't understand what Hannukah is about. I am not bashing Hannukah and happen to think it is a lovely celebration and I know God is the reason for the miracle they celebrate, but it is not considered holy, as you obviously know.
Whether you celebrate Jewish or Christian holidays, God bless you.
Yes...maybe I lost track of your input, I fully agree with your observation, as is obvious by my comments...I am not debating your input, but rather, supporting your observation...
Okay either way. BTW, MERRY CHRISTMAS, or HAPPY HANNUKAH.
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