Jerusalem – X-mas Tree In Israeli Mall Called A ‘Disgrace’ By Orthodox City Official

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    Jerusalem – An Ashdod mall put up a Christmas tree for the first time — that’s not sitting too well with the northern Israeli city’s haredi Orthodox deputy mayor.

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    “This is something intended to hurt anyone who identifies as Jewish,” Avi Amsalem said in a post on his Facebook page.

    He called on the Big Fashion Mall to remove the “disgrace.”

    The mall had responded to previous criticism by erecting a giant menorah next to the trimmed tree on Monday, even though Hanukkah was ending.

    While the Christmas tree was making its debut at the mall opened in 2015, Haaretz reported, other malls in Israel owned by the same company, which keeps open on Shabbat, have featured trees.

    The company told Haaretz that the Christmas decorations are an attempt to bring a “European atmosphere.”

    A large population of immigrants from the former Soviet Union live in Ashdod, a port city about a half-hour’s drive from Tel Aviv, and many are believed to celebrate Christmas.

    The city’s haredi population was accused of religious coercion in recent municipal elections.


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    13 Comments
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    grandbear
    grandbear
    5 years ago

    The tree isn’t a religious symbol any more, especially among russians, In russia almost everyone has one it has absolutely no religious connotation.It merely brightens up the dreary mid winter.

    lazy-boy
    Active Member
    lazy-boy
    5 years ago

    disgusting for me to see a xmas tree in Israel!

    stamnamefortrump
    Noble Member
    stamnamefortrump
    5 years ago

    Burn an asheira tree.

    5 years ago

    FEH! Typical Israelis. Everything is permissable in the holy land already. The mayors feigned outrage is also typical of Israelis. Zionism breeds and feeds the gentile world. Its all a show. What A shande!

    5 years ago

    Legally, the mall owners have the right to erect a Christmas (not an X-Mas) tree. While we may not like to see such a tree next to a Menorah (I certainly don’t), such sights have been common in the USA. The U.S. Supreme Court, back in the late 1980’s ruled that a Christmas tree is a secular symbol, as opposed to a religious symbol. If everyone thinks the tree next to a Menorah is bad, they would have been outraged, regarding what I saw at the Ellis Island Museum in 2002. I don’t know if the exhibit is still there, but there was an exhibit featuring the religious artifacts which the immigrants brought with them. In one display case was a pair of Tephillen, next to a large crucifix. One would have thought that the goy who set up that display case, would have shown a little better sensitivity, and not placed them next to each other!

    Cricket
    Cricket
    5 years ago

    Is this Amsalems personal opinion or have Gedolim opined? What would a Posek say if the mall owner inquired if he could erect a tree for his Christian customers? I know I didn’t mind that yahoo prominently posted at the top of its homepage a menorah the entire Chanukah-it caters to Jewish users. Can an Israeli mall put out a tree as en expression to its Christian patrons? I realize that it would be forbidden to place a blatant avodah zara out even if done for patrons. Sometimes Amsalem is overly outspoken and plays the religion card when not fairly appropriate. In good faith I am trying to learn here if according to Halacha he’s right or outspoken.

    grunbergm
    grunbergm
    5 years ago

    The fact that China has a tree in every mall, every airport, every hotel, etc etc, which amounts to tens of thousands of trees (and helps the tree industry thrive) happens to be the biggest proof it’s not a religious symbol, since Christianity is not recognized as a legal religion in China. Bottom line is business, and brings in millions in additional revenues to the malls, hotels, airports etc etc. Why should the mall in Israel lose out on livelihood just because Israel recognizes Christianity! The churches all over Israel especially in Jerusalem, and its holy Old City is for sure a greater religious symbol, than some withering pine tree in a mall for a week. It’s just too bad that wood which is so scarce and expensive in Israel, has to be cut down before growing in to a big tree! China also has Santa Clauses in all malls, airports, hotels etc as it brings business, big business! And hundreds of jews are earning a livelihood exporting trees, tree ornaments, Santa claus costumes, beards etc etc from China to global destinations, during this period, and has no bearing on their religious persuasion or beliefs, but rather strictly business!

    Deremes851
    Deremes851
    5 years ago

    Why is anyone shocked?
    In The Israeli Declaration of Independence( Megillat Haatzmaut) it says clearly that Israel will protect all religions.

    Also, Israel was founded by a bunch of atheists such as Ben-Gurion etc who hated the Torah with a passion.

    The wish of Torah observant Jews is to live in the holy land of Eretz Yisroel not in Israel and that will be very soon when Moshicah comes.

    vbtwo
    vbtwo
    5 years ago

    “A large population of immigrants from the former Soviet Union live in Ashdod, a port city about a half-hour’s drive from Tel Aviv, and many are believed to celebrate Christmas.”

    This is untrue. Nobody from the former Soviet Union celebrates Christmas, they celebrate New Year. Christmas is a religious holiday, and all religion was suppressed in the Soviet Union. The tree is even called a New Year’s tree in all the former Soviet Union. Now that religion is no longer repressed, a lot of people are starting to celebrate Christmas, but they do not celebrate it in December, they celebrate it in January, as they are Russian Orthodox, not Catholic, and they do not use the tree for the celebrations. The tree for former Soviet Union citizens is purely secular and has nothing to do with Christmas, but has everything to do with New Year’s, which is a completely secular holiday there.