If you’ve read the stories of Jesus according to the Gospels, you would most likely conclude that Jesus Christ was a Jew. He was born to a Jewish mother in Bethlehem of Judea and raised in the town of Nazareth.
Given his origins and the fact that his early followers, including the twelve disciples, were Israelites, a natural question arises: Do Jewish people celebrate Christmas?
At first glance, it sounds logical. If anyone should celebrate the birth of the most famous Jew in history, shouldn't it be the Jewish people? However, the reality is much more complex.
To understand why most Jews do not celebrate Christmas, we have to look at the definition of Jewish identity, the theological divide between the two faiths, and the unique holiday that Jews celebrate instead.
Who Are the Jewish People?
Jews are descendants of the ancient Hebrews who formed the nation of Israel. They are an ethno-religious group, which means Jewish identity is tied to both a shared ancestry and the religion of Judaism. This group is globally diverse, comprising several major subgroups:
- Ashkenazim: Jews from Central and Eastern Europe.
- Sephardim: Jews from Spain, Portugal, and North Africa.
- Mizrahi: Jews from the Middle East.
- Beta Israel: The Jewish community of Ethiopia.
Central to their life is the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible). The Tanakh is an acronym for its three pillars: the Torah (Teachings/Law), the Nevi'im (Prophets), and the Ketuvim (Writings).
While Christianity and Islam both grew out of these Jewish foundations, Judaism remains a distinct path with its own 24 books of authority and a specific focus on the covenant between God (identified as YHWH) and the people of Israel.
The Theological Chasm: Why Not Jesus?
To understand the Jewish perspective on Christmas, one must understand what Jews think of Christianity. While there is deep respect between the faiths today, significant theological differences remain.
The Nature of God
Judaism is strictly monotheistic. The concept of the Trinity, which views God as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is a major point of departure. To the Jewish mind, God is an indivisible unity. The idea of "God the Son" or a man being divine is often viewed as a contradiction of the Torah’s teachings.
The Role of the Messiah
In Judaism, the "Messiah" is expected to be a human leader who brings world peace, rebuilds the Temple, and gathers the exiles. Because Jesus did not fulfill these specific national requirements during his lifetime, Jews do not recognize him as the Messiah.
Historically, some Jewish authorities even viewed the early Christian movement as a "heretical" sect that led people away from traditional Law. Consequently, celebrating the birth of Jesus as a divine savior does not align with Jewish religious convictions.
The "December Dilemma"
For many Jews living in Western countries, December can be a complicated time. This is often called the "December Dilemma." While they do not celebrate the birth of Christ, they are surrounded by Christmas music, decorations, and statutory holidays.
In response, some secular or "cultural" Jews might participate in the social aspects of the season, such as attending office parties or enjoying the "traditional" Jewish-American meal of Chinese food and a movie on Christmas Day. However, these activities are social rather than religious.
What About Messianic Jews?
It is worth noting that there is a group called Messianic Jews (sometimes referred to as Jews for Jesus). These individuals identify as ethnically Jewish but believe that Jesus is the Messiah. This group does celebrate Christmas, though they are often viewed by the broader Jewish community as having moved into the realm of Christianity.
The Main Question: Do Jewish People Celebrate Christmas?
Generally speaking, Jewish people do not celebrate Christmas. Unlike various Christian denominations that celebrate the birth of Jesus as a central pillar of their faith, Jewish people do not. Since they do not recognize Jesus as their Messiah or as a divine figure, they have no religious reason to celebrate his birth. To a religious Jew, Christmas is a Christian holy day that belongs to a different covenant.
Here is what is interesting: Jewish people do often celebrate an event that occurs around December 25th, but it is not Christmas. It is called Hanukkah.
The Festival of Lights: Hanukkah
Hanukkah, which means "Dedication," commemorates the Maccabean Revolt in the 2nd century BCE. The Hellenistic King Antiochus IV had outlawed Jewish practices and defiled the Temple in Jerusalem. A small band of Jewish fighters, the Maccabees, reclaimed the Temple.
According to tradition, they found only enough sacred oil to light the Temple's lamp for one day, but it miraculously lasted for eight.
How Hanukkah is Observed:
- The Menorah: Lighting one candle each night for eight nights.
- The Food: Eating foods fried in oil, like Latkes (potato pancakes) and Sufganiyot (jelly donuts), to remember the miracle of the oil.
- The Dreidel: Playing a game with a spinning top to remember the time when Jews had to hide their study of the Torah from Greek soldiers.
Conclusion
Ultimately, while Jesus of Nazareth remains a central figure in world history and a son of the Jewish people, he is not a figure of worship in the Jewish faith. Therefore, Jewish people do not celebrate Christmas. Instead, they use the winter season to celebrate Hanukkah: a holiday that honors the survival of their faith and the light of religious freedom.
