Chassidic Jews don't learn Torah on Christmas (in Yiddish: Nittle). As many chassidim heil from Orthodox Christian countries, many observe this practice on the 7th of January, the Orthodox Christmas. 1/
https://twitter.com/Hasidic_3/status/1479264073531461632
Chassidic boys are expected to dedicate every hour of the day to prayer and Torah study. For many, Nittle is the only day in the year that they can do other things, such as play board games (pictured). The reason for this practice is given as follows: 2/
In traditional Judaism Jesus is regarded as a supreme heretic and source of impurity. In chassidic mystical thought on the day of his birth the impure forces are invigorated and they could steal the holy power of Torah study for their own nourishment. It is therefore avoided. 3/
Hail*
But some argue that this is an anachronistic justification for a practice that arose for historical reasons: in Europe Christians would come home from their midnight mass having heard the antisemitic priest preach about the Jewish Christ-killers. 4/
They would raid the Jewish study hall looking to kill Jews. So the community decided to close the study hall on Christmas, which is why Torah-study was halted. 5/
Either way, non-chassidic charedim (the "Lithuanians") eschew this practice, as halting Torah study is considered a severe sin (bittul Torah). End/
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