Trim the tree, no matter what you preach

The annual Christmas event at Jerusalem’s YMCA is meant to be ecumenical, but gets misinterpreted

By Jessica Steinberg

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24 November 2016, 7:09 pm

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Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center

When it comes to public Christmas tree trimming, there’s only one game in Jerusalem, and that’s at the YMCA on King David Street, home to everything ecumenical.

The annual event, always held on last Sunday of November — which falls out on November 27 this year — includes trimming the large fake tree that is placed in the YMCA lobby, as well as receiving chocolates from Santa and singing carols. It’s become an opportunity to invite all Jerusalem children to take part, as a way of making this into a multicultural event.

“My motto is, let’s do cultural activities together without talking about the conflict,” said Osnat Yehuda, director of programs and events at the YMCA. “The YMCA is about accepting all people and all nations.”

There were, however, a few problems last year. When the YMCA decided to open the event to the wider public, posting flyers on municipal boards in both Jewish and Arab neighborhoods in the city, some reactions were swift and strong.

Lehava, the Jewish far-right organization that opposes assimilation of any kind, protested loudly, said Yehuda. The municipality then told the YMCA not to publicize the organization’s Christmas market in more public areas of the city.

The lit Christmas tree at Jerusalem's YMCA courtyard (Courtesy YMCA) — The lit Christmas tree at Jerusalem’s YMCA courtyard (Courtesy YMCA)

On the day of last year’s tree trimming, Lehava and the police were present across the street from the YMCA, said Yehuda.

Inside, however, were 350 Jerusalemites “of all stripes,” both secular and religously observant Jews, as well as religious and secular Christians, “and probably some Moslems too,” she said, decorating the three-meter Christmas tree, and then heading outside to take a look at the six-meter tree outside, which is lit for the first time on that evening.

“I had seen the tree trimming as part of a month of activities, which included a Hanukkah celebration,” said Yehuda, who rented a “huge” menorah from Chabad in Tel Aviv and planned dreidel games and songs. “It was a decision to invite everyone to everything.”

The plan is the same this year, but with one slight alteration. All the flyers for the Sunday, November 27 tree trimming were posted only in the more open-minded and secular neighborhoods of Jerusalem, according to municipal orders.

“That’s what we were going to do anyway,” said Yehuda. “I don’t like to make noise about the difficult stuff, only the good things.”

Trimming the YMCA Christmas tree, Sunday, November 27, 5 p.m., including a bell tower concert and ‘selfies’ with Santa.