Christmas In Israel, Many Happy Pilgrims But Little Spirit
By
Joel Leyden
The Israel Ministry of Tourism opened an office last week at the Rachel security crossing point, on the road between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, to ensure easier passage for tourists. Even Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon made sure to welcome the Christian holiday wishing Christians in Israel a merry Christmas today, saying he hopes the new year will bring Israel and the Palestinians peace and security. "We all need it and I intend to make every effort to reach it," Sharon said. But one has to search very hard to find a holiday spirit in Israel. Please note that I do not say a Christmas spirit, but rather a "holiday spirit." You might find a few restaurants in Tel Aviv and Jaffa and a handful of stores on Tel Aviv Allenby Street with holiday decorations. Not more than that. As a secular Jew who was raised in a Jewish Conservative home in New York, has lived in Israel for over 18 years and has served proudly in the Israel Defense Forces for almost the same period of time, I am embarrassed by the attitude that the Israel government is displaying or rather not displaying during this holiday period. I just returned from Israel's new Ben-Gurion airport. It's a gloomy, cold and wet night here with much of the rain flooding Israel roads and streets. One would think that on this Christmas Eve there would be something in the main lobby of Ben-Gurion to welcome the many pilgrims who come here. Not one light, not one greeting appeared. Now please do not get me wrong as a Jew and as a Zionist. I do not celebrate Christmas. I am not a Jew for Jesus. I am not a bleeding left wing member of Peace Now seeking an imaginary peace partner from Hamas or Islamic Jihad. But I am a Jew who respects that Israel is the homeland of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. That many of our Christian brothers support Israel and our Zionist state more than many Jews in the US, Europe and Asia. One just has to look no further than to respected and creative movie director genius Steven Spielberg as he rationalizes the Munich Massacre in his new film "Munich." It's bad enough that the many anti-Semites from England BBC and Reuters need to throw rocks at Israel's security wall on this evening calling Bethlehem a "prison" and referring to a "walled Bethlehem." They quote the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah as saying to Israel Radio: "Nobody needs checkpoints in the Holy Land, this is the Holy Land and it should be treated as a holy area. We wish that this road will stay open so all Christian pilgrims can enter every day of the year, every year." Sounds good Michel. What do you suggest in terms of the Islamic suicide terror bombers who are caught almost daily at these security checkpoints? Should we just allow them in, offer them some tea before they blow up a bus, a restaurant or shopping center? Israel is a democracy. One that allows freedom of speech, religion and freedom of movement. But does that mean that Israel should now crucify herself with those who believe in Islamic Jihad or Holy War? Yes, BBC and Reuters can easily criticize Israel for defending her civilian population as they conveniently forget the Islamic attack on New York's World Trade Center, the Islamic terror attacks which took place in Spain, Bali, Egypt and Turkey - not to mention England's own Islamic terror underground bombings. Least we forget as well that the IRA is referred to as terror organization, guilty of terrorism in the highest degree but Hamas, Fatah and Islamic Jihad are "militants, combatants and gunmen" who murder Jewish and Arab babies on buses and restaurants in Israel. But with all this Jew hate emanating from media outlets such as the BBC, the truth does surface. "Things are a bit better than in previous years. All the hotels are booked solid with pilgrims who came to celebrate Christmas," said Mariam Azizeh, 47, manager of the tourist office. Israel authorities estimate the number of visitors to Bethlehem over Christmas will double to 200,000 this year. They include those celebrating Armenian and Orthodox Christmas in January. The number of worshippers in Bethlehem for midnight mass tonight was however expected to be no more than a few thousand, braving bitter cold and rain. The Israel Defense Forces has eased restrictions on visitors to allow visits by foreigners as well as Palestinian Christians from the West Bank and Gaza. Israel Christians are also expected in Bethlehem. "When I was younger, I was forbidden from even saying 'Christmas,' and so this is certainly different," a Jewish immigrant from Boston who is married to a Christian he met here explained. The immigrant, who lives in Ma'aleh Adumim, preferred not to be named out of "respect" for his religious family. "It's very enjoyable and we always have a lot of fun. My father is an Orthodox rabbi and so I obviously didn't start celebrating Christmas until three years ago, when I started dating my wife." So
yes, it will be a nice Christmas for those celebrating it. In New York, London and Paris Jews learn something positive about Christmas. It's the Christmas spirit or as I and the White House refer to it as the "Holiday spirit." That Holiday spirit merely is defined by the words "Peace on Earth." That Israel government institutions let alone the Israel bookstore chain Steimetsky are intimated and comes under attack by a small minority of Jewish extremists, is embarrassing. "As a born Catholic, that grew up and had the experience of Christmas in different countries, and today a convert to Judaism, when December comes, I feel something missing in the air," a friend told me tonight. "Not the religion - but the Christmas Spirit - the feeling, seeing people sharing, helping each other, being friendly and more cooperative. Also I miss the lights, the decorations, the music. These things do not have a religious connotation to me. Unfortunately you can only find these things in so few places around Israel. This astonishes me every year because Israel is the center of different faiths."
As Jews we must remember the word tolerance. Now many will say: "hey, this is a Jewish state, I did move here to celebrate Christmas." I say, remember what is Judaism. Are you Reform, Conservative, Modern Orthodox, Orthodox or Chassid? By what rules do you define yourself as a Jew? Who are you to judge others? Why do you take the Christians money for hotels, buses, food and tourist gifts but not illuminate one light in Ben-Gurion simply stating "Welcome to the Holy Land - Seasons Greetings? Yes it will be Hanukkah in a few days. The candles will be lit, potato latkes served with dradels spinning and Jews singing. But where is our "kavoud" our respect for those who want to celebrate a religion which calls for Peace on Earth? Israel's meteorological office said that snow was possible tonight. That would give Bethlehem its first white Christmas in many years. Now we just need the peace to be implemented by the Palestinians and not just sung about. An Israel welcoming mat for Christians at Ben-Gurion airport could only help the situation in the democratic, religiously tolerant Western world's war against Islamic terrorism. We must all remember how the Church of Nativity was terrorized only a few years ago by Islamic terrorists. We must remember the suffering that our Christian brothers who live or have lived in Bethlehem, Nazareth and in Lebanon have faced over the years. Many forced out of their homes by Islamic terrorists. Peace on Earth and a warm welcome to all Christians who have come to enjoy their Christmas in my little, democratic Jewish home called Israel. Pass the Eggnog.
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