The Jewish Christian Discovery Center (JCDC) kicked off the holiday season with the 5th annual blessing of Christmas trees at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Marietta on Friday, Nov. 24. Each year, JCDC Executive Director Rabbi Albert Slomovitz joins with the priests from St. Ann’s to bless the trees before the Knights of Columbus sell them. This event kicks off JCDC’s annual J Star Project.
The J Star Project focuses on practical and fun activities that promote understanding between Christians and Jews. Each family that attends this event will receive a holiday packet that includes a menorah Christmas tree ornament, a dreidel (plastic spinning top), and some chocolates. Children can hang the ornaments on their trees at home. The fun continues as the children read the included instructions on how to play the dreidel game. It was a popular game played during the time of Jesus.
With the rise of antisemitism in the United States and here in the metro Atlanta area, JCDC partners with St. Ann’s cler gy to show the wider community the close bond Jews and Christians should have with each other. For more than five years the JCDC has worked closely with the staff of St. Ann’s to promote interfaith dialogue and friendship including Rabbi Slomovitz’s annual blessing of the Christmas trees.
“It is a blessing to work with St. Ann’s and show everyone that Christians and Jews come together and learn about the shared Jewish traditions we all have. Jesus grew up as a practicing Jew. That included celebrating Hanukkah and other Jewish holidays,” said Rabbi Albert Slomovitz, the found er of the JCDC. “It is important for our Christian friends and neighbors to see coexistence and friendship among us all. I look forward to this annual tradition of blessing the Christmas trees.”
2023 marks the 5th year Rabbi Slomovitz is working with Atlanta area church leaders engaging in interfaith dialogue during the holiday season He emphasizes that now it is more important than ever to have these strong interfaith relationships as a defense against antisemitism and other forms of intolerance. During the Christmas and Hannukah seasons, it is the perfect time of year to educate Jews and Christians about their shared history and values.
“I am blessed to have Christian friends across the metro area whose churches are our partners,” Slomovitz said. “We love kicking off the holiday season at St Ann’s when the Christmas trees arrive.”
The JCDC produces children’s books and adult reading materials that highlight the spiritual and religious bonds that Christians and Jews share. It won four movie awards at the 2023 Christian Online Music Festival for The Magical Encounter. More information about JCDC can be found at therabbijesus.com.
