Seattle Airport Removes Christmas Trees

Rabbi's Request For A Menorah Ignored; Instead, Officials Take Down Christmas Display

(AP)  All nine Christmas trees have been removed from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport instead of adding a giant Jewish menorah to the holiday display as a rabbi had requested.

Maintenance workers boxed up the trees during the graveyard shift early Saturday, when airport bosses believed few people would notice.

"We decided to take the trees down because we didn't want to be exclusive," said airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt. "We're trying to be thoughtful and respectful, and will review policies after the first of the year."

Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky, who made his request weeks ago, said he was appalled by the decision. He had hired a lawyer and threatened to sue if the Port of Seattle didn't add the menorah next to the trees, which had been festooned with red ribbons and bows.

"Everyone should have their spirit of the holiday. For many people the trees are the spirit of the holidays, and adding a menorah adds light to the season," said Bogomilsky, who works in Seattle at the regional headquarters for Chabad Lubavitch, a Jewish education foundation.

After consulting with lawyers, port staff believed that adding the menorah would have required adding symbols for other religions and cultures in the Northwest. The holidays are the busiest season at the airport, Betancourt said, and staff didn't have time to play cultural anthropologists.

Hanukkah begins this Friday at sundown.

"They've darkened the hall instead of turning the lights up," said Bogomilsky's lawyer, Harvey Grad. "There is a concern here that the Jewish community will be portrayed as the Grinch."

Craig Watson, the port's chief lawyer, said Bogomilsky had threatened to file the lawsuit if the port didn't make a decision by the end of last week.

"It just wasn't going to get done before the threatened lawsuit was filed. They said they were on their way to the courthouse," Watson said. "We're not in the business of offending anyone, and we're not eager to get into a federal lawsuit with anyone."

Port commissioner John Creighton said he'd hoped the trees would come down "quietly." Instead, airline employees called Seattle television stations. Creighton said he's received several irate e-mails.

[changeit4]

Don't we all have better things to do than sue airports? If the concern is that you'll be portrayed as the Grinch, avoid acting like one in the first place! Get on the plane, off the plane, and to your family; enjoy the holidays you curmudgeon!

[aeasus]

Maybe the state of Washington shouldn't recognize the holiday as well.

"They've darkened the hall instead of turning the lights up," said Bogomilsky's lawyer, Harvey Grad. "There is a concern here that the Jewish community will be portrayed as the Grinch."

Any person or party that erodes the "Spirit of Christmas" will be frowned upon by the masses.

[oleander8]

Wrong, Wrong, Wrong, Wrong! I can't believe this Rabbi's actions reflect the feelings of his congregation.

[missyj1964]

OH MY GOD!!! Have we forgotten what the spirit of Christmas is about? It's NOT about a tree or a menorah. It's about feeling good and being with family. Frankly, a Christmas tree just seems to bring out the spirit more than a menorah. I am an agnostic but I believe in the spirit of the holiday. Be that as it may, this Rabbi needs to find more to occupy his time than finding fault with the way things are done. MYOB, Rabbi, and go see your family and friends and leave the airport alone.

[honest_news]

The sad truth of the story -- and one which seems to be utterly lost on most readers if these responses are any indication -- is that the airport was so adverse to the idea of putting up a single menorah that it elected instead to trash the trees. The rabbi never requested that the airport remove the Christian holiday symbols -- just that they add one Jewish holiday symbol to the celebration. But the airport couldn't stomach the idea of including other faiths -- instead it elected to quash all holiday spirit, and to cast the rabbi (and by extension, Judaism) as the offending party. A truly sad commentary on American life.

[thursday24]

Gee, I wonder if the rabbi's god approves of the actions he is taking. I dont think that any god would want a rabbi to sue! He is acting like he is jealous of the trees! And a tree is a tree- not a symbol of a holy person. Christmas trees dont celebrate Jesus! Go back to your church and play with the choir boys!

[mjv2944]

Well Mr. Grad, if I lived in Seattle I would say that the Jewish community is the Grinch. This will do a lot to help eliminate the anti-semitism. And the city of Seattle is run by cowards. The Jewish community should be proud of this Rabbi.

[grumpas]

I will have to agree with honest_news! People are completely missing the point here! I think the Rabbi was being reasonable in his request! Why do people have to make it into a CHRISTIAN holiday when there are several other religions who observe holiday's around the same time! If the airport can't manage to give time to ALL those religions then the Christian ones should be removed! That's what this country is supposed to be about, freedom for everyone to have their own religion! It's not like there are only Christian's in this country anymore! There are a lot of people who don't believe in Christianity! But, a lot of Christian's like to forget that! There should not be just one religion represented in a display! My whole family celebrates Winter Soltice! We have never celebrated Christmas!!!!

[Syndicate]

Christmas beleive it or not is a secular holiday. What do christmas trees and and santa clause have to do with the relgious parts of the holiday? As an atheist who celebrates christmas more as a family tradition and who shuns all things religous about this hioliday put the fing trees back up and tell the jewish rabi where he can shove his manora.

[themartyred]

3 years and 2900plus deaths too late.

RIP
SGT Stephen R Sherman
C CO 1-5 Inf (STRYKER)
KIA 3 Feb 2005
Mosul, Iraq

Or as the President of THE United States of America calls him
Comma # 1462

Killed because Saddam Hussein had in his focus Nuclear Weapons, or something...

[bseece]

If we agreed to display a religious representation for everyone out there, we would not be able to walk through the airport or any other public place. This country is a melting pot of many not just a few. Why can't a simple ornament be hung on a tree to represent the many religious people in this country. Not only is their religeon being noticed but maybe enlighten the rest of us.

[cathaleen]

That's sad. The rabbi is a grinch. Those trees are for the children. If the rabbit wants a menorah let him donate it. Christmas trees are no longer considered religious symbols.

[jmann27273]

Wow! What stupidity. If, as one reader says, "this country is about freedom of religion", why can we be sued for putting up a Christmas tree and not adding a symbol for dozens of other religions? Good grief, this is just another example of political correctness being used to justify insanity. Yes, the Rabbi was justified to request a menorah, but he is not justified to sue the airport. I salute the airport officials for making a mature decision. Too bad the religious fanatics can't find something productive to do, like help people in need.

[redveg]

The "Spirit of Christmas" has become one of hate and intolerance. Extremist Christians have no problem with the commercialism of its holiday and the inclusion of many pagan idols and rituals; as long as no other religion can celebrate thier own holidays openly.

[redveg]

Freedom of religion does not mean freedom of one religion to dominate public space and exclude all others. And I agree that religious fanatics should help the needy instead of decorating trees to worship.

[swtgapch]

Doesn't the Bible say not to sue one another? How can someone who supposedly follows God to the limit go completely against His Word? Everyone needs to get off their soapbox and focus on the real issues. We have children starving, no shoes or coats in the winter weather, spouse abuse leading to death, child abuse leading to deaths, rich people robbing the poor to get richer, poor people robbing the rich to eat, drunk drivers, child molesters, heck I could go on for a long time. People get over your ego's and self righteous *** and get on with your life. The world is not out to get you and basically is not thinking "I am going to put up this tree to offend someone and ruin their life" GET OVER IT! If stuff like that is the most important cause you have to complain about, consider yourself lucky and volunteer to help someone less fortunate.

[random_radar]

The airport officials did the right thing. Christmas trees are associated with religion (despite their secular nature), and the first ammendment prohibits any action on the government's part that fosters one religion over another.

Two wrongs don't make a right, and putting up symbols of other religions would not be appropriate. It wouldn't matter if every religion was represented. The government should stay out of religion--neither supporting or opposing it.

Of course, I wish the government would quit trying to destroy religious faith by what they teach in public school, but so long as people support public education, I guess they get what they deserve.

[redveg]

What is it with all of these people who think that helping others is more important than other religions but not more important than putting up and decorating trees? Why didn't these airport people spend their time and money to help all these people and problems instead of buying and installing trees and decorations? Impressive is the hypocrisy of these comments.

[dogsoul]

Oh so poor Mr. Rabbi threatens to SUE in Federal Court if they don't meet his demands by deadline & is now all concerned about how this makes him & his community look now that they've responded in the only way they could given the time & logistical constraints? Christmas as we know it today is really a combination of secular, Christian & commercial elements - and if you want to remove all the Christianity from public places in lieu of separation of Church & State - fine - but the trees are not part of those influences. And it's true, if they put up a Menorah, they would have had to include a manger scene, Kwanza whatever, Muslim something etc... only choice was to take it all down - thanks Rabbi - thanks a lot.

[dogsoul]

People don't "worship" the trees for Christ's sake - and sure, I suppose you could say they could have dedicated that time & money to helping people out - but as an advertising guy, I gotta tell ya, the VALUE of such ornamentation IS to foster an atmosphere of good will towards others... you see the decorations, you get into the spirit, you're more inclined to help your fellow man, we see it happen every year - and when you consider the foot traffic at an airport, I suggest that those efforts may very well do MORE for those in need than what otherwise may be seen as a more direct approach... heck, it may well inspire the airport workers themselves to do more.

I appreciate the government's need to stay religion neutral, but can someone please clarify though - IS an airport a government owned enterprise? I'm assuming it is...

[bobgee_1999]

A Christmas tree is not a religious symbol in any church I ever attended; if it has any religious roots (no pun intended) they are almost certainly pre-Christian. Anyway, isn't the airport privately owned? If so, how could the lawsuit stand up in court? Must we also be equally representative in our homes?

[ryindy]

Belive it or not folks, it's purported the Supreme Court has already decided that a Christmasor Holiday Tree in itself is not sufficiently secular to promote a secular religious belief.

The seven segmented candelabra, the menorah, however, is a symbol of the Jewish religion.

Consequently what Rabbi Bogomilsky's actions would have resulted in was to force the SEATAC Airport to promote the Jewish religion over all others.

[olebd]

What's next? Kick Santa out of the malls so any child that doesn't celebrate Christmas won't suffer the trauma of feeling left out???

[jwb129]

Nothing like another pain in the backside who continues to ruin traditions that have been around for decades. Quit giving in to these people and stand your ground on what your beliefs are. If the Seattle airport believed that the trees belonged there, then they do and no one should be able to stop them. Is it going to get so bad where someone is going to threaten to sue me because there isn't a menorrah in my front yard? If the Rabbi wants mennorahs, then let him put them up at his house. He shouldn't be able to dictate peoples beliefs.

[cbelster]

Certainly, and unfortunately, there is some momentum toward excluding all religious displays or affections in favor of a position that offends none.

It is also disappointing that this essentially is a movement toward a religiously neutered country over the one that the founding fathers envisioned%u2026 one of tolerance.

I am not sure when or where religious tolerance became confused with the absence of religion, but I would say that SEATAC is a symptom and not the cause.

[nadeau4201]

If anyone else here thinks this country has gone completly MAD "Please raise your hand". Who cares this isn't even news, it is just something for people to argue you over. This whole war on christmas is propoganda a way to divert our attention away from our little beady eyed president. The airport did what they had to, who wants to get sued for something so stupid.

[mreberry]

I will be glad when the day comes when things like this don't get so much attention. A Jewish educator was trying for recognition of his own holiday this time of year. I think he was wrong in his judgment, but we have all done things we have regretted. The decision by the airport was probably right because there might be more lawsuits from other groups. It is not a big impact on anyone. I consider a Christmas tree as secular symbol like Santa Claus. But it is no big deal. I just don't like giving publicity to Jews, Christians, Moslems, Atheists, or any other type of person that make these kinds of controversies.

[dbarjim]

I am sick and tired of people threatening to sue because they are offended by something. 96% of the people in the United States celebrate Christmas. Why is a 1% group given the POWER to dicate would goes on, this is UTTERLY stupid. The Rabi knew what he was doing when he made the threat that he was going to sue the airport. The Rabi did the wrong thing here, he should respect others rights to worship, as we do to respect his right to worship.
Jim

[johnmag]

I do believe that this is a great country built on diversity however people just have too much time on their hands and forget why the masses escaped other countries to become citizens of a free country. I do think it%u2019s important to observe other ways of thinking however when does it end? My fear is for the future of our country, lets face it, in the past 7 years our freedoms have become a bit more limited. This issue at the airport will only spark religious groups to examine other public displays of the season and jump on the bandwagon. My concern is will the day come when all public holiday displays are governmentally regulated, displaying all religious views in equal proportion and not to include extra decorations to over power any other display of the season? This could be achieved with a governmental approved poster which would be the only display used by law. I know this may sound a bit outrageous however lets look at our history , not only in this country but world wide.

[jt92202]

I live in the Seattle Area, on talk radio this morning they had the Rabbi on to tell his side of the story. He did not threaten to sue, his lawyer did to see if he could get the Airport to act faster, he is extremely upset by the decision the Airport made and wants them to put the trees back up even if the menorah doesn't go up too. The fact is the Supreme Court has already decided that a Christmas or Holiday Tree and the Menorah in itself is not sufficiently secular to promote a secular religious belief. So whats the big deal on either one!! And if other cultures with holiday's around this time wants to show their symbols let them thats how we learn about other cultures!! This is stupid, every year someone complains and we react by taking the tree or what ever down then it hits the news papers and we have to hear about it for the rest of the season. It's time WE THE PEOPLE decide what we want and don't want and tell our GOVERNMENT the majority wins!!!!!!!

[dbstevens]

Threatening lawsuits is disgusting. I'm so ashamed of what our country has become. In my book, these sorts of lawsuits and threats of lawsuits are one person's attempt to thwart the freedom of another, and should be illegal.

I completely agree with respecting religious beliefs. I've always felt that the primary focus being on the Christian religion was ironically against our country's supposed principles.

I also agree that we can't be anthropologists and cater to EVERY religion.

I lived in New York for many years...where there are more Jewish people than in Israel. During that time, I began to observe the holidays from a generic standpoint. I now wish people "Happy Holidays."

My solution is simple and obvious. Simply decorate for the HOLIDAYS with motifs that are not specific to any religion. Lights, garlands, ornaments, etc. Just avoid anything with a religious connotation, and they could even avoid too much red and green. My home is decorated this year with tons of lights and silver tinsel, but no tree.

I wish I could just grab the world by the ears, shake them like my Mom used to do and tell them "get a clue!" But people are basically confrontational. No matter WHAT someone does, SOMEONE is going to cry "foul!"

But I have lost any respect for a *** RABBI...a religious leader who's supposed to be teaching love and respect...threatening to sue. He's no leader, he's an idiot with no understanding of the thing he's supposed to be leading.

[nicoleanna]

I will be arriving at my hometown airport of Seatac, a few days before Christmas.. and I have to say it is just not going to be the same without the Christmas trees.. i miss them already

[winsors1]

Once again the feathers are flying because of differing religious ideologies...Can we go back to 1492, 1776, how bout 1956....Doesn't anyone see what's going on?????? Guess not!!!! Jesus "IS" the reason for the Season...but...Not for some!!!

[joehill101]

It wouldn't be Christmas anymore without this kind of thing, would it? P

First of all, Christmas trees are NOT symbols of Christianity. You can look at all the paintings in the Vatican you want and I can assure you that there are many Christian symbols in them, but a Christmas tree is not one of them. This is because the Christmas tree is not a Christian symbol. It is PAGAN in origin, and to me, simply symbolizes the Winter Solstice, when the days go from being shorter to being longer. Strange how Christ's birthday and the Winter Solstice fall on the same day, isn't it? Unless, say, the Christians just coopted the Pagan Winter Solstice celebration for Jesus, "the light of the world."

So I think of the Christmas tree as about as Christian as Santa Claus, who doesn't show up in any of the Vatican's paintings either. Can you image? With Rudolph? Santa, too, is just an old pleasant tradition that Jews often misinterpret as a Christian symbol.

But since a lot of people do think of Christmas trees as Christian, I think the Rabbi had at least enough of a case to file it, but he and his lawyer would have been wise to act as Jesus advised and turned the other cheek instead of acting like Christmas-season bullies.

[japjxp]

I have difficulty understanding why the airport felt the need to remove the trees. Christmas trees have far more to do with the secular side of Christmas than the religious side. Christmas trees, Santa Claus, Frosty, et al. have, for many years been more about the secular celebration than about the birth of Christ. This would be akin to removing the Easter Bunny from National view in fear of offending another' religion.
Although they are incorporated into Christians' celebrations, they are just as relevent to many non-Christians.

[afubar69]

I think SEATAC made the right decision. Instead of bowing down to a bully, they turned the tables and put the blame of that decision, squarely where it belonged, on the Rabbi and his willingness to sue. Now he's afraid that he and the Jews will be blamed, go figure. Bravo SEATAC officials.

[elgodsell]

This is really bad. We are taking away the things that drove America into a future. This nation is going to fall if we keep it up. The celebration of Christmas is going to be taken from the market place - nor will there be a place to worship if people keep this up. America, where are you going? - its not what it use to be. We are slowly returning to the very place our relatives ran from. Merry Christmas

[jbob1000]

Since when did this country become controlled by the voice of one person? Yes, the airport did the right thing in the face of a lawsuit that would easily drag on for years and cost millions of dollars. Instead of dismantling and removing the Christmas trees, we should be dismantling and removing our current joke of a judicial system.

[johnmag]

Sorry to say that in a court of law%u2026. Christmas Trees, Santa and even Rudolf will be implied as a Christian view of what Christmas is all about and I am also sorry to mention this, but in most households today%u2026 the birth of Christ is 2nd place wake up everyone!!!!

[gailherzog]

Now that SeaTac has been disgraced nationally and probably internationally, how about an immediate turn around: Replace the trees, put up a Menorah and all and any cultural and spiritual symbols that portray this season for what it really is - LOVE, GIVING, TOLERANCE AND NON-JUDGMENTALISM. Let's make SeaTac truly warm and welcoming for ALL beliefs and cultures and set the example for other airports!

[johnmag]

I'm sorry but what is SeaTac?

[afubar69]

SeaTac = Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

[ronniehm]

SeaTac's (Seattle-Tacoma's) response was brilliant, because this way, the rabbi's lawyer won't see a dime. When they put up the trees next year, you won't find that lawyer anywhere near them.

[bamafanphil]

The Rabbi is being is not being very realistic. Did he think the guys at SeaTac HAD an 8ft Menorah just lying around in storage, but didn't put it up to irritate the Jewish community? Or were they supposed to run out to 'MENORAHS "R" US' and pick one up? Lighten up guys. A recent poll I read had 53% saying, in so many words, to forget the menorah, leave the trees and let'em sue.

Just imagine being jewish, you could walk around town and find every establishment that has a tree with no menorah in sight, write down the name of that establishment, then after having about 1000 or so names, sue each one and become richer than Bill Gates. The rabbi needs to get a life.....

tis the season to get wealthy.....