Introduction to Part 2

This section is a practical how-to on celebrating the birth of Jesus in a Jewish way. There will be no attempt to defend the celebration of a Jewish Christmas, since we did that in part 1. Many people who have loved our approach to celebrating the birth of Jesus have asked me if I would give some practical tips based on how we have made this a fun and meaningful eight day event. Knowing the controversy that surrounds this day, we do not want to communicate in any way that this is the only way to do it or even that others must celebrate Christmas. That is left to liberty of conscience. This is not a holy day, but a thanksgiving day that falls under the liberty Paul gave in Romans 14:6. Just as we did in part 1, we say to those who either want to celebrate differently than us or who do not want to celebrate Christmas at all: “let no one judge you … regarding a festival” (Col. 2:16). We give you liberty of conscience. That verse cuts two ways: Paul says to those of us who enjoy celebrating this thanksgiving day, “let no one judge you … regarding a festival” (Col. 2:16).

As we mentioned in part 1, our family has thoroughly enjoyed celebrating the birth of Jesus in traditional Hanukkah style. These eight days are days of celebration, feasting and gift giving. They are days in which we rethink covenant history. They are days of tangible connection with the Jewish roots of Jesus. They help to put us into the mindset of faithful Jews like Simeon who were “waiting for the Consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25), and of Paul who loved celebrating Jewish festivals in a New Covenant context (Acts 18:21; 20:16; 1 Cor. 16:8; etc). They are days in which we attempt to leave the glamour and glitz of modern Christmas celebration and attempt to reenter the poor stable where Jesus was born.