Dear Reader,
As promised, I will continue my discussion about not acknowledging the holidays of other traditions while confining my remarks to Hallmark. As before, I will discuss the tradition I am most familiar with, i.e., Judaism.
Every year Hallmark (Here after H) acknowledges Christmas long - at least one or two months - in advance of its actual arrival. In the summer they even introduced Christmas in July - summertime in the Northern hemisphere. I do not know when that traditions began. I became aware of it about 4 years ago. What intrigued me was the absence of any acknowledgement of Hanukkah. Then we noticed that H incorporated inter-religious dating and marriage. However, the outcome was what could only be interpreted as Christian superiority. Weddings occurred in church with the Jew bowing to the church. This was reinforced by Hallmark’s penchant to support the concept of the DivineRight of (Royalty) (Kings) in scenes where princes become kings with the bishops or cardinals supervising the ceremony and conferring the leadership on the new king - the very concept the American Revolution fought against.
There must have been an outcry from some in the audience - I have no direct knowledge of such an occurrence - because the next such show had a a Rabbi as co-officiant.
The first couple of shows that incorporated Hanukkah did so by making what I perceived to be a mockery of a very meaningful historical event. What an abuse of a teaching opportunity of truth that could help bring understanding between and among people! After all Hallmark is noted for such behavior.
The last couple of shows that I am aware of that dealt with Hanukkah showed a more respectful attitude about Hanukkah, but still short of showing the differences and that the two holidays are in no way similar; and that Christmas is dependent on the successful outcome of the Maccabean revolt.
I can’t help but notice the sharp contrast with an episode on THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT. Sheriff Gillespie is forced to confront his past antisemitic behavior with a Rabbi who lived in Sparta, MS, at the time of the incident and who is returning to Sparta many years later. The situation was handled with sensitivity and deep understanding. I wondered why other programs - especially those produced by Hallmark - could/would not be produced similarly.
USo what do we conclude about the behavior of F & F and Hallmark with respect to Judaism? Are the people involved just insensitive? Possibly!
Stupid? Probably not. These are highly educated and intelligent, worldly individuals especially on F & F.
Are they just so highly imbued with their Christianity that they are consciously or subconsciously oblivious to any other religion? Possibly. This would not be an unheard of situation. After all Christian Supersessionism - the teaching that the new covenant through Jesus the Christ replaced the Mosaic covenant and that the Christian Church has replaced the nation of Israel - has been a staple in Christian theology since the early Church fathers. It, along with the charge of deicide, has been a major source of antisemitism through the ages.
Are they antisemitic? Possibly. As the Shadow asked: “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!” The Shadow may know but I don’t. I never met or corresponded with any of them or any of them with me. But, and this is a big but, nothing in this world concerning human behavior surprises me, especially if religion is involved. I am not amazed at what people are willing to believe. Nor am I amazed at what people are willing to do as they act on their “beliefs.” Didn’t the Germans first have to kill a Jew before they were permitted to go on the first crusade? One could rapidly produce a list of such idiocies through the ages. Look at the Jew hatred through out the world today and the violence associated with it, yet it is just 74 years since the end of WW II and the world becoming aware of the HOLOCAUST/SHOA.
What do you think? And, why do you think that way?