-Caveat Lector-
Welcome to the wonderful world of religion. But don't worry. Israel is
organized more as a modern secular state than a theocracy. In other words,
more Israelis are interested in making a buck, than they are in preserving
their religious heritage. Besides, tourism is Israel's second most important
industry and they will not give up this opportunity to fleece the sheep.
On the other hand, how do you think the Vatican would feel if thousands of
Buddhists came to celebrate their Pagan holiday in St. Peters Square? Or if
thousands of Americans went there to have a big Halloween party? Would they
get a permit?
Joshua2
=====================
Das GOAT wrote:
>
> -Caveat Lector-
>
> "Rabbis view Christian festivities in Israel as a threat to the Jewish
> foundations of the state. They are claiming that even Christmas trees
> 'defile Judaism.'
> "An Israeli sociologist explains: 'For many Jews, Christianity is
> associated with anti-Semitism and persecution. Why, then, should they
> tolerate its customs?'
> "'If Christians wish to celebrate, they may do so -- in private,' the
> Chief Rabbinate has said. 'Events in public places must preserve Jewish
> characteristics.'
> "It is now rumored among Vatican officials that Pope John Paul II will
> cancel his Year 2000 pilgrimage to the Holy Land because of racial tensions
> ..."
>
> Israel Rabbis, Christians End Feud
>
> By DINA KRAFT
> .c The Associated Press
>
> JERUSALEM (AP) - A compromise between Israel's rabbis and the tourism
> industry will allow Christian revelers to carol for Christmas and to ring in
> the millennium - but in muted tones that will preserve the Jewish character
> of Holy Land hostelries.
>
> The agreement reached Monday ended a battle between rabbis who claimed
> Christmas and New Year festivities threaten the Jewish foundations of the
> state, and tour leaders, who worried that a ban would further dampen
> millennium plans already beleaguered by a lack of organization and sectarian
> tensions.
>
> ``Christian celebrants may celebrate and run their festivities in closed-off
> hotel halls,'' the Chief Rabbinate said in a statement, adding that public
> places would preserve a Jewish character.
>
> Most municipal rabbinates keep their supervision of kashrut - the preparation
> of food according to Jewish law - confined to the kitchen, but a few,
> including those in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, say any in-house violation of
> Jewish tradition taints the food operation.
>
> That meant end-of-millennium plans for Christmas and New Year celebrations
> were out of the question, both cities' rabbinates said.
>
> Tourism industry leaders were outraged, especially after the state launched
> an ad campaign beckoning pilgrims to celebrate Jesus' 2000th birthday in
> ``The Place Where It All Began.''
>
> Israel, which usually attracts 2 million tourists a year, has already dropped
> its 2000 expectations from 4 million to 3 million.
>
> A lack of coordination with Palestinian authorities has left some key areas -
> including the border between Bethlehem and Jerusalem - in disarray, and
> Vatican officials have suggested that Pope John Paul II may cancel a 2000
> pilgrimage because of Muslim-Christian tensions in Nazareth, the city of
> Jesus' boyhood.
>
> Hotels do not require a kashrut certificate to operate in Israel, and most
> establishments in traditionally Arab east Jerusalem do without. But the
> absence of a certificate can cost hotels the business of religiously
> observant Jews - and the weddings, bar mitzvahs and circumcision rituals that
> make up the bulk of the catering business.
>
> No bacon for breakfast is not usually a problem for Christian visitors, but
> the ban on millennium festivities forced hotels to choose between two
> lucrative markets.
>
> Most opted to go kosher, leading travel agents to appeal to the powerful
> finance committee of Israel's parliament.
>
> ``What does a fir tree have to do with Kashrut?'' committee chairman Avraham
> Poraz asked rabbis last week.
>
> Their response: the trees would defile Judaism and undermine Israel's Jewish
> character.
>
> Centuries of persecution have engendered a deep-seated wariness of Christian
> celebration among many Jews, said sociologist Menachem Friedman.
>
> ``It's more of a psychological feeling,'' he said. ``They see the history (of
> persecution) before their eyes and ask why they should give it any place of
> respect.''
>
> With tempers flaring, Israel's Chief Rabbinate - an umbrella body for the
> municipal rabbis - stepped in, sensing that the bad publicity could
> exacerbate already overwrought secular-religious tensions.
>
> This week, it brokered an agreement. ``It should be emphasized that there was
> agreement and understanding among all present,'' its statement said.
>
> Not quite, said travel agents.
>
> Danny Dassa said he lost a group of 3,000 American pilgrims after organizers
> heard that their merrymaking would take place on the sly.
>
> ``Tourism could be the No. 1 industry in the country if the rabbinate did not
> have to ruin things with their interference,'' said Dassa. Others worried
> pilgrims would be lost to the Palestinian areas.
>
> Rabbi Shmuel Borstein, the Jerusalem rabbi who banned Christmas trees in
> September, said he was happy with a compromise that keeps the tinsel from
> dazzling Israelis.
>
> ``We have no problem with the Christians coming,'' he said. ``They are not
> bringing their holiday to conquer us. The problem is with the Jews who want
> to celebrate.''
>
> Israeli Hotel Association spokesman Gilad Nashum said he could live with the
> deal.
>
> ``In the tourism business, we are not allowed to be pessimistic or waste time
> waging wars,'' Nashum said. ``We have to concentrate on the most important
> thing, which is to facilitate a great experience on New Year's Eve.''
>
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DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic
screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters
and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright
frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects
spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL
gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers;
be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and
nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
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http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
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