23 Dec 2009 4:41 PM By Didi Remez



Share

This has probably already been in the news, and I am probably inadvertently plagiarizing someone else's original sarcasm, but I couldn't resist the temptation: Where is Bill O'Reilly when we need him?

On a more serious note, this type of behavior probably contributed to the State Department's damning report on religious freedom in Israel and the Occupied Territories.

Rabbinate versus Santa Claus

Itamar Eichner, Yedioth Ahoronoth, December 22 2009 [Hebrew original here]

A recommendation issued by the Israeli Chief Rabbinate to hotels and restaurants has generated new tension between Israel and the Vatican [see this for another recently reported source of tension].

While hotels, restaurants and clubs put up fir trees, Santa Claus dolls and red hats for the Christmas celebration and New Year parties that will take place in the next two weeks, the chief rabbinate  recommends not displaying symbols of the Christian holidays. Moreover, the rabbinical "Lobby for Jewish Values" recently began to take action against restaurants and hotels that intend to put up Christian symbols. "We are considering making public those business establishments that put up Christian symbols for the Christian holidays and will call to boycott them," said the lobby's chairman, Ofer Cohen.

Every year, the Jerusalem Rabbinate also acts to ensure that fir trees not adorn places of entertainment. A source in the Kashrut Department said that this is done every year in consent, and that businesses that don't comply can find their kashrut certificate revoked.

In the wake of reports on the ban, a number of complaints were made to the Foreign Ministry from Christian figures protesting the decision. Among others, the Israeli ambassador to the Vatican received calls from Vatican officials and from Christian media outlets, and US Christian Congress members called the Israeli embassy in Washington. As a result of the protest, the Foreign Ministry called the director general of the Chief Rabbinate, Oded Weiner, and heard from him that this was not a compulsory ban but rather a recommendation relating to the public areas of the hotels and restaurants.

"Our examination of Chief Rabbinate documents show that in a public area it is indeed proper to refrain from displaying Christian symbols as a non-binding suggestion," said Weiner last night. "Hotels can hold New Year events without this affecting the kashrut of closed halls. But in public areas, symbols that are liable to offend members of other faiths should be avoided."

The Foreign Ministry, as it does every year, made sure to provide the diplomatic corps in Israel with fir trees. There are about 8,000 foreign diplomats serving in Israel who receive free fir trees from the Foreign Ministry and the JNF.

 

Read All Comments (0) Post a Comment | Email To Friend | Bookmark and Share

Thank you. Your comment is being held in moderation for an editor's approval. Approval is entirely at the editor's discretion. If the comment is argumentative, racist or repetitive; or if it includes socially unacceptable language or ad hominem attacks, it will be discarded automatically.

Close Window


Related Posts

The French Connection & Middle East Talks

Originally featured on The Washington Note European High Representative for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy Baroness Catherine Ashton decided to head to China instead of participating in the Middle East stakeholders dinner hosted by President Obama...

What is said and what is not said

Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel told his governing coalition that he did not promise an extension to the partial suspension in settlement construction when it expires in September (BTW, the suspension did not cover most of the settlement areas which...

1 2 3 4 5 Next > ... Last »

Posted at 23 Dec 2009 4:41 PM by Didi Remez

Add a Comment

(required )

Or, you can

Email: (required)
 


(required )  
Remember Me?

Follow Palestine Note

Recently uploaded videos

Palestine Note DG discusses prospects for peace talks

Washington - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu gave opening remarks ahead of the first direct peace negotiations since...

Netanyahu & Abbas to grab for peace chance in Washington

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are expected to sit down together on Thursday for the first round of...

Obama, Netanyahu Condemn Hebron 'Slaughter'

President Barack Obama says the killing of four Israelis in the West Bank was a "senseless slaughter" that won't stop the U.S. from seeking...

Make Your Voice Heard!

Be published on Palestine Note.

Click here to submit articles, photos and video clips.


Send A Tip

Advertise

Palestine Note
Palestine Note is a news and blog aggregator, with a strong emphasis on community building. The goal of the site is to provide a platform for information about Palestine-related news, Palestinian culture and Palestinian politics. We strive to present a broad range of views and ideas, with the common denominators of moderate values and political views.