Thread by @RabbiZvi

Interesting little known fact: many Christmas songs were composed by Jews.

(I’m dreaming of a) White Christmas was written by Isidore Beilin (Irving Berlin) which broke all records in 1942 as the first great Christmas hit.

In fact Jews wrote or co-wrote many such hits.
1/11

Jews don’t do the Christian Christmas thing. We do our own, Jewish thing - even if we are not religious. Chanukah time of year.
But we love a party. This phenomenon represents the desire to join in the fun w/out compromising, most of these songs don’t mention religious stuff.2/11

Sammy Cahn (Samuel Cohen) and Jule Steyn (Julius Stein) both child immigrants to the USA wrote Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow! in 1945, during a Californian heatwave. Covered by many artists including Sinatra, Carly Simon and Rod Stewart.3/11

Johnny Marks is perhaps the most prolific Jewish composer of Christmas songs, including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Rocking Around the Christmas tree.
It was prompted by a children’s story written by his (Jewish) bro in law Robert May! 4/11

washingtonexaminer.com/the-jewish-man…

Mel Tormé (Torma) & Robert Wells wrote The Christmas Song (Chestnuts roasting on an open fire), also in 1945 during the same heatwave, but in Chicago, initially w Wells trying to keep cool.
Recorded first by renowned African American Nat King Cole.5/11

jazziz.com/a-short-histor…

Interestingly, Cole, an active Freemason, made four recordings of this song. The label, Capitol, initially thought that people would not buy a Christmas song sung by a black performer! Of course they did, and his is still the most popular amongst middle-aged women!
6/11

“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” by Edward Polá (Sidney Edward Pollacsek), and George Wyle,(Bernard Weissman) was a huge hit in 1963. Lyrics include “tell of the glories of Christmases long ago”. More like Chanukah glories…!
7/11

Earths Kitt’s 1953 hit “Santa Baby” takes the Christian myth of Santa Claus and turns it materialistic, pushing out anything religious.
Joan Javitz and Phillip Springer. Apparently Springer wrote the music in five minutes after hearing the lyrics.
8/11

open.spotify.com/track/1vZKP9XU…

After Jingle Bells, Winter Wonderland, composed (1934) by Richard B Smith and Jewish Felix Bernard (Bernhardt), is the granddaddy of Christmas songs. Smith wrote the lyrics as a poem whilst being treated for tuberculosis (he died of TB in 1935) and brought them to Bernard.
9/11

Other such songs include Sleigh Ride, and Silver Bells. The former is just about Winter, the latter about shopping in the city.

Both are not really Christmas songs, more about the secular experience of the “Festive Season.”

open.spotify.com/track/5ASM6Qji…

10/11

@threadreaderapp please unroll

Here’s the threadreaderapp version.

threadreaderapp.com/thread/1339579…

Jews thus can be said to have played a major part in the modern American conception of Christmas, with music and ideas which are seen as essential elements of the season today.
11/11