|
From: (Active Duty Military Member/MRFF Client’s email address withheld)
Subject: Commander only allows Christmas decorations and calls Hanukkah the “Jewish Christmas”
Date: December 5, 2025 at 1:20:42 PM MST
To: Information Weinstein <mikey@militaryreligiousfreedom.org>
This message is to Mr. Weinstein and the MRFF.
Thank you for helping us through the difficulties we are experiencing here at our U.S. military installation.
I am a Jewish active duty military member. My spouse is also in the active duty military. We are starting a family. My spouse is also Jewish.
Earlier this week our commander announced that only Christmas decorations were allowed in the headquarters facility where I work and under his command. He made it clear that the recognition of any other type of celebration would be unacceptable “wokeness” which would not be tolerated under his command. He often speaks his views that DEI is a cancer. He says it is destroying our country and our military. The next day there were four nativity scene displays erected in our headquarters complex.
He says he has an “open door policy”. So I made an appointment to come see him and asked about whether we could also have Hanukkah displays up. He seemed upset and said that since “it is well known that Hanukkah is the Jewish Christmas” Jewish personnel should be satisfied when they see a Christmas display that it also includes Hanukkah. Obviously that statement is just FUBAR!
He also stated that since the events of Hanukkah occurred several hundred years after the birth of Christ, this shows that Hanukkah is part of Christianity. Also incredibly insulting and just plain wrong. The Maccabean rebellion involving Hanukkah occurred more than one and a half centuries prior to the birth of Christ.
The commander made it very clear he wasn't going to move on this. He has no interest or any clue in how his statements might be viewed as antisemitic or prejudicial.
My wife and I agonized over this as to what to do? My immediate supervisor (name and rank and title withheld) suggested that I contact you and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. We know that it would be fruitless to file an EEO or inspector general action. We significantly fear many different types of reprisal if we directly take this on. This is why we decided to reach out to Mr. Weinstein and the MRFF to at least let people know what has happened here. I'm sure our current Secretary of Defense would condone it. And perhaps even the President. But this is as much as we can do at least anonymously. As you promised to us please do not reveal any of our identification information at all. How is it “woke" to allow so many Christian nativity scenes all over our headquarters complex but to not allow even one little display, perhaps a single small menorah, for Hanukkah? Mr. Weinstein and the MRFF thank you for being the avenue through which we can express our shock and anger at our commander's hateful decision.
(Active Duty Military Member/MRFF Client’s name, rank, AFSC/MOS/SFSC, unit, and installation all withheld)
| 
