fare; revanchism, irredentism and chauvinism. denominations to put the "Christ" back into The religious conflicts were more important then Christmas. As a Jew, and a rabbi, I than now, although serious enough now. The wholeheartedly agree with their campaign. But I resentment against the usurpers of priestly power would like to take it one step further. and prerogative is absent, although perhaps At the same time that Christians call for a more vaguely reflected in the passionate resentment of religious expression of the holiday, most Jewish the "eastern" Jews in Israel against the domina- groups try to do whatever we can to keep any tion of wealth, position and politics by European religious overtones out of all public celebrations. Jews. We remind our co-religionists of the doctrine of Similar End For The Modern State? separation of church and state and we try to pre- vent local civic presentations from reflecting the The script is not too different. The similarities are religious'nature of the holiday. striking, the augury chilling. The Israelis have not been allowed to build their country in peace. In- We are correct in doing all these things, but we creasingly the country has been forced to seek are also incorrect. The result of our efforts has "secure" borders and has become an occupying been to make it kosher and acceptable to have a power. "Reasons of state" excuse all kinds of Christmas tree, but not a manger on public pro- nefarious activity. The parallel may not be exact. perty; a snow scene, but not a representation of In the second century before Christ there had Jesus. been no Holocaust to drive the Jews into Palestine to seek refuge; no dread memory of genocide to Our efforts to "dereligionize" the holiday have arm them against compromise. Yet, Moshe Dayan succeeded, however, in conveying the secular once boasted that the Israelis earned their nature of the holiday to Jews. They make it easier military victories from Biblical study: historic bat- for Jews to say, "Christmas is really an American tles brought up-to-date. One can only hope that holiday," or, "I love the spirit of the season." I history will not repeat the Commonwealth ex- don't know of any Jews who would ever think of perience, the doomed efforts at control through placing a manger scene on their front lawn, or in territorial acquisition, alienation of neighboring their living room. Yet, there are Jews who do buy states, alliances with distant empires, pawns to and decorate a Christmas tree, and think nothing indifferent powers, toward a tragic end. • of it. Somehow, we have to remind Jews that Christmas Keep christ in christmas is a lovely holiday— but that its theological pinn- ings are strong and deep. It should not be reduced Stuart G. Weinblatt to a winter festival any more than Rosh Hashanah It's that time of year again. We are bombarded should be considered a fall festival. with billboards, songs, signs and all kinds of Maybe we should be a little less vocal in opposing chazzerai to remind us that it is Christmas— as if Christmas celebrations. Then at least it will be we could somehow forget or miss the point. that much easier to remind ourselves and our The commercial exploitation of the holiday is children that it is a Christian holiday! • responded to by calls by good Christians of all Phil Cohen was incorrectly identified in Sh'ma STUART G. WEINBLATT is rabbi of Temple 14/261. He is rabbi of Temple B'nai Israel, Laconia, Solel, Bowie, Maryland. New Hampshire.

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