Tree for Some, Thorn for Others

I found out Thursday evening at dinner that there is a Christmas tree in my dining hall. I also learned that my friends do not understand why the tree makes me uncomfortable. “It smells so nice!” one of them said. “Come on, Christmas is an American holiday! I don’t believe in God and I love Christmas,” said another. “Go eat in Leverett—I hear they have sticklers for tutors who won’t allow them to put up a simple Christmas tree.” But despite their reassurances, I am uncomfortable eating in my dining hall, in my own home, and will continue to be for the next two weeks—and two weeks junior year, and two weeks senior year.

It is hard to explain to people how seriously having a Christmas tree in my home affects me. As part of a very small religious minority in the United States (Jews make up 2 percent of the population), living through December is difficult enough. Television, movies, radio and shopping malls are decorated red and green. Even at school, posters abound advertising Christmas a capella jams and holiday dances. But I have always been able to walk past the Christmas tree in Nordstrom’s and go home. Now when I go home, though, a dominating Christian holiday icon stares at me while I eat. Harvard might as well have put up a tree in my room.

While Harvard needs to be an institution that enables people to practice and even display their religions, it also needs to refrain from establishing religion. House Masters should try to learn from the Hanukkah candle lightings that will take place in each House this year. The menorahs will be in common rooms, they will be set up only for an hour or two each of the days that they are to be lit, and students will be coordinating the religious ritual of their own accord. No student will be forced to choose between eating and being in the same room as a religious object or ritual. The religious objects will be on display only as long as necessary to fulfill religious obligation. And the school itself is not involved in instituting religious practice.

I understand that many students want Christmas trees in their homes. And they should be given permission to set up trees unobtrusively in common rooms. That way, they will be able to feel at home here; and I will be able to live in my room and my dining hall, and feel at home as well. While Christmas may still be a national holiday, it is also a religious holiday, and one I choose not to celebrate. I would be grateful if Harvard respected the decision I have made. And I hope people understand that as long as a Christmas tree remains in my dining hall, I am refused the ability to even make my own choice.

Shira D. Kieval ’04 is a History and Literature and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations concentrator in Cabot House.