For an observant Jewish family, decorating for the Christmas holidays does not present a problem; they don't. But does the same hold true for a Messianic Jewish home? And how about a home that is based on a mixed marriage? Do they, or do they not celebrate Christmas holidays? Is that home Jewish or not Jewish? The "religion", or possibly the dominantly held belief, of the family itself must first be defined.
The biblical rule is that Jewishness is traced through the father, but according to Judaism, it is traced through the mother. For believers, the Bible is the determing factor, therefore if the father is Jewish, the child is Jewish. If the father is gentile and the mother Jewish, another biblical principle comes into play and that is the offspring of such a marriage have the option to identify with either side, just as Timothy did.
Of course, a Christmas tree Christmas does not make, so let me tell you about one of my favorite trees that is a Christmas tree, but not a Christmas tree. It is called a Jesse tree.
A Jesse tree reads like a family tree. It is the family tree of the Messiah, Jesus. Now, Jesse was the father of David who, in time, was to become the King of Israel. Jesse was a son of Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth. He had eight sons, the youngest of whom was David. Jesse was a wealthy man whose fortune consisted chiefly of sheep, and David was their poet shepherd. The Jesse tree shows the genealogy of the Christ Child from Adam and Eve, and displays Biblical symbols relevant to Him.
Though popular throughout the 13th-Century, and the Roman years, the Jesse tree faded into disuse, especially during the days of Queen Victoria with their lavishly decorated trees. Today, the Jesse tree has recaptured its popularity, and is seen more and more throughout the world's Christian cultures.
The tree can be of several types: a long wooden dowel with as many crossbars as are desired; a many-armed tree branch secured into a pot of some type; or a regular green tree, either live or artificial. Any undecorated tree, or representation thereof, has much symbolism. A tree is like a triangle. It rests on its flat side with the long point reaching upward to the heavens, like hands in praise, supplication, and thanksgiving. Early Christians looked upon the vertically pointing symbolism of trees as a reminder to gaze upward in search of heavenly treasures rather than grounding one's self in earthly ones. A symbol of strength and patience, the tree also served as a reminder of the connectivity between heaven and earth, because the roots of the tree reached into the earth while its branches soared heavenwards.
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