No Christmas War in Israel:While “the War on Christmas” rages in America, secular Israelis – on a government level – have no problem stepping on Jewish sensitivities in the Jewish State. Official declarations of “Merry Christmas”, “Season’s Greetings”, and “Happy New Year “ are ringing forth from Jerusalem, and all of the state’s apparatchiks seem to be getting into the act this season.
But it’s not just a problem with secular officials, as the Torah observant are no longer shunning the subject and Jesus and Christmas. Jewish Israel notes that the Aish.com site appears to have been hacked by Santa’s elves and we’ve just posted yet another rather “christmassy” video of Rabbi Riskin.
Take a look at how secular and religious Jews in Israel ring in the season…more
5 comments:
Wow. I have to agree with you on Aish. It does indeed take the fruitcake award!
BTW: Very OT but do you have any idea why Aish.com changed it's message on the Submit a Prayer to the Kotel feature?
Until relatively recently, after you'd submit a prayer note online you'd get the messgae "Your prayer is now is Jerusalem."
Now all I get is, "Your message has been sent."
I want my prayer note in Jerusalem, not just confirmation that Aish got it.
It probably sounds like a tiny matter but it sees like they're disassociating themselves from Jerusalem. To be neutral? I don't know. Why omit the name Jerusalem if one's prayers are directed there? What is wrong with the name Jerusalem?
As I said, a small matter, but the "your prayer in Jerusalem" was always a tremendous comfort; now it's gone.
Oops, sorry for the many typos.
The Aish homepage was quite a surprise. Someone on the Jewish Israel site thought we should give Aish a break, because they are in kiruv work, but let's look at the other kiruv organizations:
Ohr Somayach features the 10th of Tevet on their homepage (appropriate),
and Chabad has a very dynamic page with a number of feature stories and none of them features Christmas.
As of this morning December 27th, the Aish homepage graphics have been changed. The Christmas graphics have been removed. Much of the content remains the same. Jewish Israel notes that an article, "Why Jews Don't Believe In Jesus" is also being featured.
Whether the graphics were changed due to pressure or as part of a regular schedule is not known. A screen shot of the homepage as it appeared on December 24 - 25th can be seen at
http://jewishisrael.ning.com/page/aishcom-christmas-homepage-as/
Well done once again Jewish Israel. I think the change was due to pressure. And they wouldn't have done it if they didn't also feel it was questionable.
The Aish homepage resembles a site for assimilated Jews celebrating Chrismakuh more than a kiruv site. Lots of articles about Christmas.
Probably the best kiruv thing to do this time of year is to totally ignore the xtian holiday entirely. Or as much as possible.
I'll never forget the year I got a Jewish caldendar after making a Rosh HaShanah donation.
December 25 had only one message on it--"banks closed." That was it. I loved it. I thought, wow, there really IS a world where the xtian holiday isn't celebrated or wormed into every aspect of life.
BTW: Wasn't Aish once Aish HaTorah?
Not to be bash them, if they're doing kiruv work, it's admirable and their articles are very user friendly, but I am still upset over the kotel thing.
The word Torah has been removed along with Jerusalem. I just wonder why. Jerusalem could be politicial, Torah I don't know...
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