# Jews and Christmas

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jews-and-christmas/219328>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [December 16, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jews-and-christmas/219328 "2003-12-16T16:21:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 6

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**Author:** ![IWLN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5ac83/32.png) [@IWLN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IWLN)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jews-and-christmas/219328/101 "2003-12-22T00:35:28Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by zev\_steinhardt \*  
> **It always seemed obvious to me… 😃**

I noticed a difference immediately. 🆒

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**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jews-and-christmas/219328/102 "2003-12-23T15:47:27Z")

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Interesting article, in line with this interesting debate…

[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3320237.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3320237.stm)

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**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jews-and-christmas/219328/103 "2003-12-23T16:02:55Z")

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Good lord. Real life imitates South Park.

Chaim Mattis Keller

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**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jews-and-christmas/219328/104 "2003-12-23T20:05:34Z")

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From the linked article:

> [@](#):
>
> Most Orthodox Jews certainly wouldn’t get upset by a Christmas tree - it’s not viewed as an offensive religious symbol
> 
> Nathan Diament  
> Orthodox Union

Tho I suppose we could split hairs by focusing on the word “offensive”.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![IWLN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5ac83/32.png) [@IWLN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IWLN)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jews-and-christmas/219328/105 "2003-12-23T20:24:34Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by sqweels \*  
> \*\*From the linked article:
> 
> Tho I suppose we could split hairs by focusing on the word “offensive”. \*\*

The problem with blanket statements about any group of people is, some are not as inclined to crawl under the covers as the next person. Offensive depends on what you, the individual, believe to be true.

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**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jews-and-christmas/219328/106 "2003-12-23T22:25:47Z")

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sqweels:

> [@](#):
>
> Tho I suppose we could split hairs by focusing on the word “offensive”.

I think the point is that most Orthodox Jews do not see Christian symbols in public spaces as indicating some form of state religious coercion or hostile attitude. We shrug, say “let them have their fun”, move on, and save the lawsuits for when some actual harm results, for when there’s actually a discernable effect of discrimination.

Chaim Mattis Keller

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