As we congregate with family and friends at Christmas, it’s important to remember that the three biggest argument themes of this season will be politics, religion and Christmas music.
(BRISTOL, PA) Bristol Riverside Theatre brings back a holiday favorite and welcomes audiences home this holiday season. An American Christmas Songbook, the theatre’s first concert in the theatre since 2019, gathers audiences December 9-19 for a heartwarming evening of favorite carols and songs performed by a cast of BRT favorites. Former BRT Artistic Director Keith Baker returns to lead the BRT Concert Band. Tickets are $32 to $47, with discounts available for students and military.
Have yourself a Jewish little Christmas 12/14/2020 at 6:44 PM Posted by Kevin Edward White
By Jeff Jacoby, Boston Globe, December 14, 2020
For Jews in old Europe, the Christmas season was a time to be watchful and wary and to keep out of sight. For their descendants in America, the Christmas season which is also the season of Chanukah, of course is a time to celebrate and give thanks for the freedom of religion that protects the menorah in their living room window no less than the Christmas tree in their neighbor’s.
In medieval and early modern Europe, this time of year often brought sermons filled with invective against Jews for the supposed crime of crucifying Christ. Instead of “good tidings of great joy,” there were apt to be blood libels and pogroms. In some Polish and German communities, Jews referred to Christmas Eve as Vay Nacht (Woe Night), a bitter play on Weihnahchten , the German word for Christmas. So great was the fear of antisemitic violence that r