For centuries, Christmas, along with Easter, was a time of terror and danger for many European Jews. Christians would sometimes turn on the Jews in their midst, blaming them for supposedly killing Jesus, and often attacking and even killing Jews with impunity. Throughout Jewish history, December 25 has seen some low points in Jewish life.
Many aspects of Christmas observance grew out of ancient celebrations of the Roman Saturnalia holiday, in which ordinary moral rules were suspended. In the days of the Roman Empire, Jews were often taunted during this period. One popular pastime was to force Jews to run naked through the streets of Rome for the amusement of others on December 25. These practices continued into modern times: in 1836 the Jewish community of Rome sent a letter to Pope Gregory XVI begging him to stop the abuse of the Jewish community on Christmas, in which rabbis were forced to don clownish outfits and run through the streets while spectators threw things at them. Pope Gregory refused to intervene.
On Dec. 25, 1100, Baudouin de Boulogne, son of a French count, was crowned King of Jerusalem after a wave of bloody Crusaders rampaged through Europe. The Crusaders attacked and massacred Jewish communities in their path. When they reached the land of Israel, they crushed dissent and killed thousands of Jewish and Muslim residents in the area.
In 1312, anti-Jewish riots broke out in some Germanic lands on Dec. 25. In 1369, the King Frederick III of Sicily passed a decree on Christmas that all Jews in his kingdom had to wear a special red badge at all times. In 1881, Jews were blamed for a stampede in a crowded Warsaw church on Christmas Eve that killed dozens of people. In the ensuing violence, mobs rampaged through the streets, attacking and killing Jews for three days in a massive Christmastime pogrom. Two Jews were murdered, 24 were hospitalized, many Jewish women were raped, and over a thousand Jews lost their homes and businesses.
Even in modern times, the Christmas season has been linked to some anti-Jewish sentiment. The KKK was established on Dec. 24, 1865; through the years it killed and terrorized countless Jews, as well as African Americans. Following the lynching of the Jewish businessman Leo Frank in Georgia in 1915 (widely thought to be the work of the KKK), over half of Georgia’s 3,000 Jewish residents fled the state.
The Roonstrasse Synagogue
On Dec. 24, 1959, the Roonstrasse Synagogue in Cologne, West Germany was daubed with a swastika and the words “Juden raus” (Jews out). The attack sparked a wave of hate in West Germany; Jewish synagogues were desecrated and an elderly Jew received a death threat.
In the face of this hatred and danger, some Jewish communities responded by instituting rules minimizing their exposure during the Christmas season.
It was common for Jewish schools to close on Dec. 24 and 25 for the pupils’ safety. Many European Jewish communities prohibited their members from going outside on Christmas, lest they be attacked. Jews often stayed indoors with their windows and shutters closed.
Some other Jewish customs became indelibly associated with Dec. 24 and 25. Many Jews stayed up all night on Dec. 24, lest their homes be attacked or burned. In some communities, people adopted the custom of not learning Torah that night, lest passersby see a light on and decide to attack the home. Some Jews had a custom of reciting the Aleinu prayer out loud on Dec. 25 to ward off danger. A Yiddish proverb summed up the danger to many Jews during the Christmas season: Niti iz a beyzer layd, or “Christmas is a severe burden”.
These strictures and traditions have all but died out today now that Jews enjoy unprecedented safety and security, even during the Christmas season. We’re more likely to regard eating Chinese food as a Jewish activity on Dec. 25 than barring our doors and closing our shutters.
In memory of the countless Jews who came before us and feared this day, however, let’s not forget their customs and traditions entirely. This Dec. 25, let’s spare a thought for the many Jews whose lives were lost on this day.
(19) Nicholas Heavisides, May 3, 2019 3:08 PM
I never knew
As a christian who has loved the Jewish people and Israel for over 20 years I was shocked to read this article. There are about 2500 Jewish people in my town. Whenever I see one I like to say, 'shalom alechem'. Last week I found out from my sister's DNA test that she is 2.4% Ashkenazi Jew which means a little part of me is also Jewish. I was very happy about this.
Baruch haba b'shem Adonai.
(18) Bob M, January 3, 2019 1:44 PM
Renounce the new testament
It is not "christians" that are the problem; it's the new testament.
As long as it is revered and passed on to the next generation as the inerrant word of (their) god" these sort of problems will bubble up every few generations.
It is not that a few crazy people distort something.
The very PURPOSE of the new testament was to TEACH that the Jews reject God and then God rejected Jew and gave christianity the mission and blessing intended for Israel.
The BEGINNING of the end of such violence is to renounce the new testament.
(17) Aidan Mathews, January 2, 2019 4:37 PM
the yellow star
It's a fine -and factual - article from one of the best educated persons on the planet (Oxford, Harvard, LSE), and this responder is very much an armchair reader rather than an academic, so, apropos the notorious yellow star, I ask timidly whether the medieval and early modern sumptuary laws didn't unilaterally and universally dictate every single and singular aspect of dress and adornment (cloth colour, insignia, jewellery, hats, footwear and fabric) according to class/caste, rank, religion, gender & job across the whole of Christendom and the Ottoman domains of the Sublime Porte. Penalties for any infractions of this sign-system were ecumenically applied - or so I was often taught and told in my undergraduate alma mater.
This is not to contradict the spitefulness of the stigma that's specific to the mark of the yellow star, but to contextualize it in the interests of complexity.
(16) NEAL SAUSEN, December 31, 2018 5:52 PM
I am Not “anonymous”!
It puzzles me that christians would persecute/ terrorize Jews on the very day they (the christians) celebrate the birth of a “JEW”????!!! Makes no sense to me at all........on any level’ signed....NEAL SAUSEN!
(15) Pinchas Winograd, December 27, 2018 9:42 PM
reason to not learn from sunset Dec 24 until midnight
Acc. to Chassidus & Kabbla the reason to not learn these 8 hours or so is to not give chiyus to the unholy forces which are more able to receive due to the 'holiday ' that is occurring from C Eve.
(14) Susan, December 26, 2018 11:12 PM
My heart is deeply saddened after reading this article. What is the intent of the author? To educate?
Uri Yitzchak, December 27, 2018 1:19 PM
Yes.! to educate indeed.!
(13) Jacob, December 25, 2018 10:58 AM
I heard that the reason we don't study Torah during the first half of the night of the 24th is so that we should get some sleep prior to midnight,so that we are sufficiently alert to study for quite a number of hours after that.Whilst the Christians are then celebrating midnight mass in their churches,we want to prevent accusations against us in heaven "why are the Christians worshipping in their churches,whilst the Jews are sleeping in their beds ?!".Therefore we study our cherished Torah just then in order to counteract just that,so we are not studying for a period of time in order to do so a little later instead.
(12) Karen, December 25, 2018 7:44 AM
Peace
I am a Christian who happened to come across this page. I wish to say that the persecutions of the Jews listed in this article were perpetrated by people using the title of Christian, but I believe when these people come before the Lord for final judgement, He will say to them,”Away! I never knew you.”
I hate the abuses that have been carried out in the name of Christianity. Please know that any true Christian has high regard for the Jews and for Israel. May Israel be blessed.
Uri Yitzchak, December 26, 2018 6:59 PM
...to say that those were not real christians it is just plain ignorant and a lame excuse, trying to rationalize their evil behaviour.!. The church fathers who are still revered as saints by christendom, were avowed and rabid antisemites Their ideas gave birth to the Crusades, Inquisition, pogroms and the holocaust . Were they also not real christians?? Just take a look for yourself, and read their writings about the jews and you will see their christian so called"love".
Scottilla, December 31, 2018 9:37 PM
"Pope Gregory refused to intervene." That pretty much proves the complicity of "real" Christians.
(11) Josh, December 25, 2018 7:37 AM
Christmas an Christians
Unfortunately, in the past, Christians used mockery, curses and violence. But remember that in this present time many Christians recognize that what happened is wrong and now pray for Israel and provide material and financial support. This too may be appointed. Shalom.
(10) Anonymous, December 24, 2018 8:23 PM
Quite Ironic
Again, I must say how “IRONIC” it is that Jews would traditionally be terrorized on Christmas, a day ment to celebrate the birth of a Jew?! Go figure!
(9) Rebekah, December 24, 2018 5:36 PM
Never forget
I think it is a great thing to remember the past as a lesson. I think way too many Jews accept everything and am sad to see so many people celebrating Christmas. I think it should be another day for us and also a remembrance to what it really means to us as a people.
(8) Rabbi Kolakowski, December 24, 2018 4:13 PM
Nitl is still practiced in many circles
"These strictures and traditions have all but died out" - not really true, many Haredi communities, particularly Hasidic communities, observe the prohibition against Torah study until midnight on the night before Christmas. In some communities, the Orthodox Christian Christmas is the date it is observed, which is January 7 (so the Nitl Nacht is observed on January 6). Some communities keep both nights, particularly if they come from a region that had both Catholic and Orthodox Christians. In light of what you write "now that Jews enjoy unprecedented safety and security, even during the Christmas season", I prefer to keep the January 6 Nitl (in America, many, if not most, Orthodox Christians keep December 25 as Christmas), to remember the dark past but to be thankful that this is not our "Christmas present".
(7) Anonymous, December 24, 2018 3:46 PM
This reminds us....
For all that we talk of "interfaith", the Christian World including the fellow how sits in the Vatican and the Archbishop of Canterbury (among many others) should -- at this time when they celebrate the [alleged] birth of their savior -- be getting down on their hands and knees and BEGGING the Jews to try to forgive the atrocities that their "religion of love" promoted!
Emil Friedman, December 24, 2018 5:06 PM
Before condemning Christians for what their ancestors did, read the last few verses of Psalm 137.
Before condemning Christians for what their ancestors did, read the last few verses of Psalm 137.
(6) MAF, December 24, 2018 1:52 PM
Chinese tradition roots
It is funny to me that the observant, kosher keeping Jews are embracing the Chinese on Christmas tradition. The roots of this is completely non-kosher: secular Jews would go out to non-kosher Chinese restaurants because they were the only restaurants open on Christmas!
(5) feigie, December 24, 2018 12:56 PM
nittel nacht is current
i dont know what happened to the comment i made yesterday. i appreciate the historic accuracy of dr miller all the time. that is why i was surprised at the statement that the danger is over now. i would suggest that perhaps dr miller is not a first or second generation survivor. or perhaps this is a facet of american jewry denial. so here is a suggestion. travel to the midwest like kansas or oklahoma. or when someone wishes you a merry christmas speak up and say you celebrate chanuka. see how safe you feel then. take a poll of gentiles and see how many would prefer that jews stay home and off the streets on christmas because their christian attitudes do not seem to extend to you. there is extra security on jewish places of worship. dec 24th night is the most dangerous. please clarify your almost unscholarly comment that this is not an issue today in time to keep jews safe. and also ask your close christian friends if you can bring them a present and see how many will ask you to stay away. and how many of us give these gifts as barter for our safety every year. lets hope readers see my note in time to be safe
(4) Adela Pisarevsky, December 23, 2018 8:18 PM
THIS, is one of million reasons why we must ALWAYS defend Israel with all our might no matter what!
The Jews who always find what to criticize in Israel (and most of the times totally inaccurately) should especially beware that any wrong done to Israel will negatively affect not only the Israelis but also the Jewish Diaspora. :)
(3) Emil Friedman, December 23, 2018 4:26 PM
I've never been in danger on 12/25
I've lived in lots of different places. Jews and non-Jews lived side by side in all of them. I've never been threatened or persecuted in any of them. I consider customs that disrespect non-Jews (eg, Nitel) to be offensive. If we disrespect them we should expect disrespect in return.
(2) feigie teichman, December 23, 2018 3:00 PM
still in danger
Dr Miller I learn so much from you. But I expect facts in evidence. I was raised in fear in my Italian community in Brooklyn growing up and Jews in NYC continue to be targets on the 25th. I do keep a low profile for this reason and I feel uncomfortable going to the Y or shopping and having to decide to say thank you to a merry xmas wish or to stand up and say I celebrate Chanuka which at best leads to avoidance and at worst danger. We think teice before hanging up Chanuka signs. And this is in NY state. The comments I hear from my professional colleagues in the midwest make it very clear to me that my life would be in grave danger on the 25th. I hope you can amend your narrative and update with current facts and practices that have not changed much. I have to make sure to get holiday gift to my Gentile neighbors to be safe. Despite never receiving one in return. Only in Israel or in the times of Moshiach will we be safe on the 25th. It is sad because I do know Christians who genuinely wish me well and are wonderful people. If they all kept to their concept of grace maybe the 25th would be safer.
DSands, December 23, 2018 7:51 PM
Affirmative
Growing up around Italians wasn’t easy on this 24-25th. While gentiles prepared for their holiday I was an outsider questioning my significance. In part immaturity otherwise subtle dismissal for being Jewish. Through the years of association with NY Italian friends I embraced my Jewishness with fervor and difiance on this holiday. I wear my mogen David, I go to movie 24-25th and Chinese restaurant a modern Jewish tradition..taking great pride being one of the chosen people who have made more contributions to our world and society. And then too living my life with congruency and integrity throughout the year unlike others seemingly act on Dec 24-25th.
This being said I display my Chanukah candles and feel blessed for the strength of will I’ve grown into as outcome of feeling insignificant. I move about on this holiday saying happy holiday as it’s a seasonal, winter solstice, greeting. And gently feeling grateful I don’t need to perform gift giving, decorating, and other expectations others go through during their holyday..
(1) Anonymous, December 23, 2018 10:33 AM
The Jews have not been militant in their history being an ancient people and also having much philosophy and theology that lends itself to humanism, environmentalism, social studies and ethics that prevents and prohibits senseless cult like acts of violence on so called non Jews. Having a subficial knowledge of life gives the bigger picture rather than admiring the comeliness of life like an artwork that may even sometimes give a flattering reflection or projection. Thank you.