The God Squad
Keep holiday decorations
Q: I am president of the board of directors for a private gated community where a substantial number of Christians and Jews reside. Our clubhouse is decorated each year to celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah. However, a few residents feel there should be no decorations so no one will be offended. In the past, we’ve had a Christmas tree, menorahs and a creche. How can we satisfy all of our residents?— J., via godsquadquestion@aol.com
A: As the holiday season approaches, your question is a good icebreaker for the flood of questions I always receive each year on the same topic. Let me first answer your specific question. I think you’re doing the right thing by decorating your clubhouse with symbols of both Christmas and Hanukkah. I’d also encourage you to include Kwanzaa symbols if anyone in your community asks that these be included.
The First Amendment guarantees for freedom of religion include two provisions: the establishment clause and the free exercise clause. The establishment clause prevents the government from establishing a state religion. This has direct impact on the legality of religious displays on public property, which your clubhouse is not.
The second clause provides that the government shall not interfere with the free exercise of religion. So if your residents want these decorations, they should have the right to display them publicly. While they don’t have the right to display them in the clubhouse, neither are they legally prevented from doing so. Your accommodation of them is reasonable and legal, as well as courteous and respectful of clear First Amendment rights on the free exercise of their religious beliefs.
Those residents offended by any displays of religious symbols are seeking to unfairly limit the rights of their religiously inclined neighbors. Since your community is on private property, your association has the right to allow such displays in the clubhouse.
Frankly, I’m fed up with people who are instantly offended at the free exercise of religion by others. We’re constantly bombarded by the free exercise of materialism, rudeness and greed. Why can’t we allow a seasonal sprinkling of ho-ho- ho without losing our tempers?
Q: My father studied for the priesthood but eventually left the seminary and married. Our parents raised me and my siblings as Roman Catholics. They taught us that the roots of our faith emanated from Judaism. As such, they emphasized that in truly living our faith, it was imperative to respect the beliefs of others.
When I married, we raised our children in a town that was almost 100 percent Christian. When the kids went out on their own, we moved to a community with a large Orthodox Jewish population.
Now for my question: Is it appropriate for me to offer greetings of “Good Shabbos” or “L’shana tova” to my neighbors? The gentleman next door is Orthodox. We moved into town on a Friday, and when I introduced myself, I wished our neighbor, “Good Shabbos.” He told me he was at first shocked to hear these words coming from me —but was also pleasantly surprised by my greeting. My wife thought it was inappropriate for me to greet the neighbor this way. I wonder if I overstepped any rules of propriety.— P., via godsquadquestion@aol.com
A: You did nothing wrong. Indeed, I’m deeply moved by your sensitivity and your spiritually impressive desire to greet your Jewish neighbor with more than a crudely perfunctory, “Hey, how ’ya doin’?” Your greeting doesn’t imply that this is your Shabbos but only a sensitive and informed greeting.
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