The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate by Janice Cohn with illustrations by Bill Farnsworth; Le Chambon Press; ©1995 and 2023; ISBN 9798989-163520; 41 pages plus 26 pages of appendices, $19.95/
SAN DIEGO – It was winter 1993 in Billings, Montana, when someone threw a rock through the bedroom window of 5-year-old Isaac Schnitzer, shattering the glass and knocking the illuminated chanukiah to the floor.
When the police chief came to investigate, he concluded that it was done by the same group of neo-Nazis who had been harassing African Americans. Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and gays and lesbians. Previously, a swastika signboard had been nailed to the Beth Aaron Synagogue, and Jewish tombstones had been pushed over in the cemetery.
A television reporter interviewed Isaac’s mother, who told the story of how her 5-year-old son was scared by neo-Nazi bullies. A town meeting was held. Christian participants asked themselves how they would like it if people threw rocks through their windows because they had Christmas trees. Their answer was that they wouldn’t like it — such persecution was unAmerican.
Someone told the story of the Danish rescue of the Jews – incorrectly, it turned out, because King Christian X never wore the Jewish star on his uniform, as legend had it. No yellow stars had been issued before word came that the German Nazi occupiers planned to round up Danish Jews. Prior to the appointed date, Danes organized a mass rescue – ferrying Jews across the water to neutral Sweden, where they waited out World War II.
Isaac shared the story of Chanukah with his class. The children told their parents about the Maccabees, the cleansing of the Temple, and how a cruse containing oil sufficient for one night lasted for eight nights, enabling the Maccabees to resupply the Temple and provide for its continuous illumination. Residents went to their encyclopedias to learn more about the holiday and what the menorah symbolized.
It was decided by many Christian families that to support the small Jewish community – 48 families out of 81,000 residents — they would display Chanukah menorahs in their windows. The Billings Gazette printed a colorful menorah for people to put up on their doors or windows. Churches led the effort. One church was shot at, but most of the townspeople were not intimidated. They joined in a community-wide protest against hate.
This book is the 30th anniversary edition of an inspiring, true story. It is told in a manner that children of all faiths can understand, with careful, beautiful illustrations enhancing the tale. Appendices for adults include the story of the decision by the town’s newspaper to print the menorahs; how the Danes saved most of their Jewish population; how to be an upstander, and a study guide.
It’s an appropriate book to read on December 25 this year, when Christmas starts in the morning and Chanukah begins in the evening.
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Donald H. Harrison is publisher and editor of San Diego Jewish World.