Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-19

is spoken and the English merriment
prevails. This proposition standing un-
disputed emboldens me for the first time
to experiment its relation TO the pres
ens status Of American Judaism.
First, can the American Jew keep
Christmas2 | say he can, without in
the least disgracing his religious con-
victions or interfering with the build
ing up Of stronger and nobler Juda-
ism than that Of former eges and older
continents. Christmas being called
in German by a came less grating on
the Jewish ear. Weihnscht, was not
known in the Christian calendar till
the end Of the fifth century. The
primitive church celebrated the natal
day Of the founder Of Christianity in
April or in May, according to former
traditions. but the 25th Of December
being celebrated all over the pagan
world as that peculiarly blessed time
OF the year where the longest night
has to give way to the lengthening Of
the day demanded recognition from
the hands of the church authorities.
The festivities Of the season were too
deeply rceted in the hearts Of the
people to allow any tampering or abo-
lition. What did the church author
tiles dol They yielded to the ineyita-
bic, accepted the situation, aud ap-
pointed the 18th Of December the day
Of the nativity. This is the
genesis Of Christmas. No
Christian theologian who has
e scientific reputation at stake will
dare dispute these facts. But the
most remarkable feature in connec
ton with the history Of this Christmas
day is the fact that the Maccabea
priests who 50 thoroughly eradicated
the Greek idolatry Of their times, after
the splendid victory over the Syrian
tyrant, used the sane priestly author.
ity in making the 95th Of Kisler, the
jewish month corresponding with the
month Of December, also a festival to
be celebrated Annually by the Jews 10
place Of the Pagsn denominations and
pollutions that we're perpetrated
among their own people in obedience
TO the prevailing heather custom OF
the age This festival is known in the
Jewish calendar blythe name of Han
nuccah (the feast Of dedication) Here
we have two distinct feasts, the older
Jewish aud the younger Christian one
migrated, so to speak, upon the natu
raj tendency Of the religious instinct
Of man 10 solemnize that peculiarsea.
son Of the year when the longest night
is sgiying way to the lengthening Of the
day.
Christmas in the eye of the Amer.
icaH jew is thus simply imbued with
the character 1f a national holiday,
and being prominently and exclusive.
ly childreu's holiday, | do not see
any reason why the American Jew
could no; aeap it in common with his
Gentle noighbor.
But the question is, how will he
do itP In the first place we may re.
move the 25th Of the Jewish month
corresponding with December to the
18th Of December proper, thus insti>
tutlng the celebration Of our Hannuc
cab on the same date that Christmas
is celebrated AS matter Of fact
both festivals are household gather
ings, distinguished by all sorts OF in.
nocent merriment and surprise, and
above all by the lighting Of candles,
etc. Our Jewish children may thus
learn by practice and example to re
spect the work Of the great Nazarene
and the mission Of his church. II
may not be known to all of you that
the three greatest doctors Of medieval
Judaism have unreservedly pro-
claimsd the fact that without
the life and work Of Jesus aud with,
out the continuous zeal of bis church
the nations of the earth could never
have been enlisted in the service Of
the true God, whom they learn TO
worship and to obey so much through
the iustrumentality Of the Christian
church. And, again, our Gentle
neishbors and fellow citizens will be
made cognizant of the fact that the
barrier between him and the Jew
ought to be removed, and, in fact, is
removed so far as we (the Jews) are
concerned; our children will freely
mingle with theirs. The national ce.
ment becomes iDdissoluble, and the
bonds Of humanity are strengthened
thereby beyond any doubt. The
issue has to come anyhow, sooner or
later, when all the members Of the
human race will have to practice their
kinship and sympathies by realizing
all the blessings Of the divine grace
and all the aspirations Of the human
ideal on holidays celebrated by all
alike. The American Jew will GER
tainly not shrink from contributing
his share toward the grand realization
of this happiest Of dreams"