Published: 18 December 2024
Last updated: 19 December 2024
My patience with Christmas and its omnipresence in public schools each December ran out this year in October.
Shelves were still heaving with Halloween lollies when my daughter’s public school on Sydney’s North Shore sent an email about a “fun competition” being run by our state member, Matt Cross.
Children in Stage 2 (Grade 3 and 4) were invited to submit creative, colourful drawings for a chance to feature on Cross’s end-of-year card for the electorate.
Initially, I felt a spark of excitement. My daughter would usually leap at an opportunity like this. Then I saw the theme: Christmas in Australia.
My heart sank. I knew exactly what my daughter would say: “That’s not for me. I celebrate Chanukah, not Christmas”.
Reading Cross's email ten days after the anniversary of October 7, I found myself in tears — frustrated, exhausted, and deeply sad.
Was it too much? Maybe. But honestly, Jews in Australia have been walking on a knife’s edge. We’ve endured violence, harassment, doxxing, and alienation simply for believing Israel has a right to exist.
Personally, I’ve been targeted by accounts with nearly a million followers. I’ve received threats against myself and my home. I held my daughter as she shook and cried seeing people waving signs emblazoned with a crossed-out Jewish star — a symbol that defines us as a family in so many ways.
Frankly, I was overdue for a cry. But it wasn’t just that.
Comments2
Doreen Finkelstein21 December at 12:16 am
Interesting perspective.
I worked in a public school which had rotating themes throughout the year to celebrate Chinese NY, Ramadan, Christmas, Anzac Day and whatever was relevant to their clients. (Not Hannukah because there were no Jewish students.)
When my own children were in school, there was an understanding that some students did not wish to do the activities.
However, you are right in your disappointment and I would strongly encourage you to keep up the fight for your daughter and the others from different communities in your school, to broaden the ‘end-of-year” perspective.
Rachel Sussman20 December at 06:05 am
I read this article with interest although I do not necessarily entirely agree.
My daughters grew up here and went to school here, and I worked within many Christian organizations and it has never presented to be an issue for them nor for me.
While Australia may claim to be secular and is indeed open to all religions truth is that the bulk of population is Christian, indeed the declared PH are not Chanuka or Passover or Ramadan but Christmas and Easter… that actually says it all.
Personally, neither I nor my daughters ever had a problem with it and I think we need to respect the majority and not ask them to change for the minority… Singing ‘I wish you a merry Christmas’ should not be seen as an ‘offense’ but as a joyoys sharing and good wishing to others…
Saying this I guess I can see the point that schools could mention that some people celebrate Chanuka and not Christmas or Passover and not Easter but at the end of the day we live here in a Christian majority country and it is ok. God bless.