Quebec has come a long way since last Christmas. A year ago, we were mired in the ugly debate
over the so-called “charter of values”, a proposed ban on religious symbols in
government jobs that divided the province. A bizarre illustration of the 5 banned
religious symbols made religious minorities feel like they were on the Quebec’s
“Most Wanted” list. Even worse, the PQ was willing to countenance open bigotry.
Later in the campaign, Pauline Marois said nothing while absurd tales about “Kosher
taxes” and “rich McGill students” were circulated by prominent PQ supporters.
In the beginning of December last year, the city of Cote
Saint Luc protested the Charter by inviting a Priest to light a Christmas tree
and a Rabbi to light a Menorah in front of city hall. I was at the rally, and
as an Orthodox Rabbi, it was the first time I had ever attended a Christmas
tree lighting.
So what was I thinking when the Christmas tree was lit? To
be honest, Jews have some uncomfortable baggage regarding Christmas. In
medieval Europe, Christmas was a time of fear and loathing for Jews. Violence
against Jews often occurred during Christmas, from blood libels in the 1200’s
to a pogrom in Warsaw in 1881. But today, the situation is quite different; on
the contrary, modern Jews experience a “December Dilemma”, when virtually everyone
else celebrates Christmas, and Jews are left feeling like an ambivalent guest
at a party, the man standing outside in the cold pressing his face against the
window to see what’s going on. Because of this, in the past I wasn’t 100% comfortable
listening to Christmas carols.
But this time I profoundly moved. Here we were, at a rally
to protect the religious rights of Sikhs, Jews and Muslims, and a group of
Christians were lighting their Christmas tree in solidarity! Instead of
being a divisive force, religion was bringing Jews and Christians together and
demonstrating that religious belief can be a force for unity and dialogue.
Undoubtedly, many of the charter’s supporters were political
opportunists, and some of them were out and out bigots and demagogues. But
there were some idealists who truly believed secularism can bring greater peace
and tranquility. They see religion as a dangerous force in the world, the cause
of war and strife. So in the Charter they set out to marginalize religion, in
order to foster greater unity.
What I saw at the joint Christmas tree and Menorah lighting
is precisely what these idealists missed. Their assumption is unity is based on
similarity; if we can get everyone to have the same beliefs and share the same
culture, we will have a peaceful society. But this is profound mistake. Unity is
possible without unanimity; in fact, we have a stronger unity when we learn how
to embrace diversity.
After the World Trade Center attacks, the former Chief Rabbi
of England, Jonathan Sacks, was challenged to explain how religion can avoid
violence. In response, he wrote a book entitled The Dignity Of Difference.
He argues that the desire to universalize one’s worldview is the primary cause
of political conflict; the more we demand everyone to act alike, the more
likely we are to fight over differences.
Sacks makes a strong case for the idea that diversity must be
respected in order for man to live in harmony. (He sees this lesson in the biblical
narrative of the Tower of Babel). Sacks also utilizes the Talmudic phrase “ways
of peace” to serve as the paradigm of interfaith relationships. He reminds us
that peace is a powerful religious value in itself, and the ability to bond
with people who don’t share our beliefs is a primary religious responsibility.
This lesson is an important one for Quebec, and for all
Canadians. At this first Christmas after the defeat of the Charter, we need to remember
the dignity of difference, that good will for all is a critical ethical and religious
value. And for myself, a Jew living in a sea of Christmas celebrations, Christmas
reminds me of the friendships that respect I share with people of all faiths
and all backgrounds.
A few years ago, in an article in the New York Times,
several Jewish professionals told the reporter how they cover shifts for their
Christian colleagues to enable them to celebrate Christmas at home. Dr. Robert
van Amerongen, an Orthodox Jew who is director of pediatric emergency service
at New York Methodist Hospital, told the newspaper that “although he is senior
enough to be able to take Christmas off, he said, he always works. ''That just
infuses good will,'' he said”.
This example is one we need to embrace. Good will is another
expression of the “ways of peace”; and as we learned in Quebec in the last
year, good will is something precious. Hopefully this Christmas, we will
continue to embrace the dignity of difference.
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