Merry Christmas at a time when saying that is considered subversive and politically incorrect

As a Jew who was raised in Brooklyn, New York in a neighbourhood that was mixed between Catholics and Jews, the magic of the season of Christmas / Channukah was indelibly stamped on my heart and my consciousness. Best of all were those years when the Jewish lunar calendar coincided with the solar Gregorian calendar to the point where both holidays coincided, and we all celebrated together.

Merry Christmas and Happy Channukah would be called out regardless of how you worshipped, and for those who celebrated other holidays (this was well before Kwanzaa was even a blip on most people’s radar), there was never a bit of resentment because let’s face it - wishing anyone to be happy was always appropriate - regardless of one’s religious belief.

Those were more innocent days when my Christian friends would spin the Dreidel with me and eat those horrible gold-wrapped chocolate coins as if they were the tastiest treats in the entire world! And I would ooohhh and aaaahhh at their amazing Christmas lights reflecting on the snowy postage-sized gardens in front of their houses and smell the piney fragrance of their Christmas trees, absolutely groaning under the weight of ornaments and tinsel.

When my Italian neighbours would bring over Struffoli and we would be sticky with honey from head to toe until we’d made ‘all gone’!

And we, in return, would bring over plates of Latkes with homemade apple sauce that were so oily and filled with onions that heartburn would be the inevitable outcome - but it was so worth it!

Those were days when rubbish bins would be overflowing with wrapping paper and ribbons and children would run to each other’s houses to show off the presents we’d been given and food would be exchanged and sometimes (often) festive drinks would lead to adults with cherry-coloured cheeks and silly grins.

Beautiful memories - are they gone forever?

Perhaps, like so many things in my youth, these memories have become rose-coloured through the years. But I do know that back then, one’s beliefs (or lack of thereof) did not have the same political and hate-filled edge that we see today where people are afraid to wish others Merry Christmas, or Happy Channukah or a blessed holiday of any kind.

My upbringing in the shadow of the holocaust, with neighbours hiding their tattooed wrists, afraid to relate the stories of their experiences in Europe only 20 years or so earlier, gave me a strong affinity for wanting to protect the underdog. A belief that life should be fair and just and that those who are downtrodden must be protected.

As a Jew who was raised with the stories of my ancestors and their constant struggle just to be allowed to live in peace in a world that hated them because of their religion, I sometimes thought how much easier it might have been to be born into a Christian household.

Now, however, I see that being a Christian today is just as frowned upon as being a Jew. Perhaps even more so, depending on where you live.

Christians are subject to pogroms and ethnic cleansing every bit as much as Jews ever have been and here in the United States, a country founded on the principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness with absolute protection for freedom of religion and speech, it is now considered a terrible lapse of judgement to wish someone Merry Christmas.

#PoliticallyCorrectBullsh*t

So of course, this is what I will do - loudly, with love and the greatest of respect for my friends, neighbours and those who share this beautiful world with me.

I would like to wish you all the happiest, healthiest and most merry of Merry Christmases. May the spirit of this season fill you and those you care about with joy and blessings and may 2024 finally bring us the peace, serenity and love we all need.

From a white, snowy and very beautiful Colorado to your home.