Airport's trees stoking "war on Christmas". (SEATAC Update)

Seattle Times ^ | 12-11-06 | Stuart Eskenazi

[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.

[Suzy Quzy]

What should Christians recognize in Jews that they don't do now?? We are descendants of the Jews.....what am I missing?

[Alouette]

Menorah in Red Square, Moscow:

Menorah in Union Square, San Francisco:

[the OlLine Rebel]

I think they're stealing a menorah-esque idea from the Jews.

[Wormwood]

And the first thing a responsible person learns is that when you threaten something, you should be ready to have to live with the results of your threat.

Exactly. The good Rabbi sent a lawyer to intimidate the Port, and the Port outwitted him by leaving the field.

Too bad, so sad. Now pay your lawyer and shut up.

[steve8714]

Aging Liberal Hippie Douche?

[Recall]

Will the Muslims want MOONS put up for Ramadan?

[ml/nj]

One wonders why the good rabbi is so concerned with a Hannukkah menorah. Why doesn't he insist that the airport display shabbat candles? (or does he think Hannukkah is more important than shabbat?)

ML/NJ

[beaversmom]

The Christmas Tree does not signal anything Christian HOWEVER the Menorah does, and heaven's forbid we offend the Secular world!

Then why do people get upset when it's called a Holiday tree or a Winter Celebration Tree? It's not in the Bible, but millions of people associate with Christmas and Christmas celebrations.

[daviscupper]

He hired a lawyer and said You have two choices:

Put up a Jewish menorah and let us perform a religious service or tear down the Christmas trees. If you don't comply with these demands we will sue your ass off!

That is why some of us are upset.

[Suzy Quzy]

Don't know any...Who are these that you speak of?

[TaraP]

Hanukkah was celebrated during the time of Jesus. As a Jew, Jesus would certainly have celebrated Hanukkah. He would have observed the Hanukkah festival according to the laws and customs of his community. The festival would have been celebrated, at least, with the lighting of a Hanukkah lamp.

Hanukkah is proably more sacred to Jesus than Christmas and Santa Claus, but Christmas sould be a time to really love one another as he loved us, the greatest commandment of all to Jesus Christ

[Jaded]

Like they need that as proof? /so

[XR7]

Just using the words 'holidays of the world' set the dreaded 'It's a small world..." disney song going through my brain - that's usually good for about ten hours of torture.)

[beaversmom]

You're welcome. Very neat about your son--thanks for the pictures.

[Gritty]

[sionnsar]

I don't think you should apologize for what is ultimately the airport's decision. The rabbi didn't intend such.

He threatened a lawsuit. How were they to know the gun wasn't loaded?