"Jesus was Jewish" is No Excuse

Rabbi Kosofsky lighting the first menorah candle in Springfield's court square during a ceremony celebrating the first day of Hanukkah on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, Bud Williams a city councilor in Springfield, Massachusetts, stood on the town square with local politicians and religious leaders and participated in a holiday tradition: the lighting of the menorah signalling the beginning of the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah. During the ceremony, he remarked, "Jesus is the reason for the season."  

He later attempted to explain his inappropriate comment by saying he only made reference to Jesus after other participants mentioned "the bright light" of 2000 years ago.  According to Williams, this alluded to Christ. "They said it," Mr. Williams said.

Refusing to admit his error or his insensitivity, Mr. Williams added, "I thought it added something to the service, it didn't take away...Jesus was Jewish.  To me, Jesus is the Messiah.  I thought I was being very positive."

When asked for his reaction to Mr. Williams' statement, Rabbi Noach Kosofsky said, "I'll get back to you."

what eye thynk:   Mr. Williams' remark and his subsequent defense of it are an embarrassment. 

Hanukkah commemorates the re-dedication of the Temple after the Maccabees' victory over the Syrians in ancient times.  The victorious Maccabees had only enough oil to keep the lamps burning for one day, but the lamps burned for eight days, thus the reference to "the bright light."  The miracle had nothing to do with Jesus. 

Mr. Williams might have taken the time to find that out before making a fool of himself instead of blundering ahead wearing his Christian blinders.

As for his claim that he was "being very positive", I ask: positive for whom? This observance wasn't about you, Mr. Williams; and forcing your beliefs into a ceremony of another religion was not "positive." it was disrespectful and demonstrated your narrow view of religion...a view unfortunately shared by a segment of our Christian population that is becoming more vocal and more strident to the detriment of the tolerance on which this country was founded.

Mr. Williams, an apology is in order.