I would like to give birth to a new holiday tradition. Forget the happy Hanukkah cards. How about a thank you note?
Who killed Jesus is a topic of much debate: was it the Jews, the Romans, a combination, Jesus' own father, a plot requirement? Yet the question of who gave birth to baby Jesus is answered without equivocation: Mary. Yes, she did so with the help of God, but it was Mary who schlepped from inn to inn before settling on a perfectly acceptable no-frills manger (a real find.) And it was her zaftig, child-bearing hips which really delivered the goods. I happen to like Jesus, who was a real mensch, and wish that the Church followed his teachings more closely. And I'm not trying to take all the Jewish credit for Christ's birth. I just think that since we have, throughout history, been blamed for his death, we deserve, at the very least, a little credit for his birth. So here are some sample cards I would like to see. Nothing fancy, don't go crazy. Just something like "Thanks so much for the best Christmas present ever! Jesus Christ." Or "We were thrilled with a lord. But a lord AND savior! You really outdid yourself." So Christians, send a thank you note to every Tom, Dick and Harry--or Tov, Dov, and Heschie--you know.