Jolly man transcends religion, says Jewish Santa Claus
Oy to the world!
That greeting, and the snowflake emblem modified to include a barely noticeable Star of David attached to his toy bag, are the only signs that the Santa greeting children at the Surrey Christmas Bureau toy depot is not who you might expect.
The jolly guy has the faux furtrimmed red hat and jacket, black buckled boots and belt, wireframed glasses and a real white beard. But his name is Ben Cohen, and in December he celebrates Hanukkah, not Christmas.
“I’m an observant Jew,” said Cohen during a break from one of his regular appearances at the Christmas Bureau on Saturday. “Those who know me know I’m really proud to be a practising Jew.”
“Santa has no religion,” said Cohen.
For years, the day after Remembrance Day, he has been donning a Santa hat and wearing it to work at his job as a highway flagger. “I’m known as Santa,” he said. For the first time this year, he upgraded to the full red suit and is freelancing as a Santa at various events, including an upcoming visit to Douglas College and periodic visits to the Surrey Christmas Bureau. He said he was attracted to the notion of spreading love and goodwill, “volunteering for those who can’t afford it.”
Throughout the year, Cohen teaches Judaism and every spring hosts Passover Seders and regularly attends a synagogue in Delta.
He said some of his fellow faithful will disagree with him playing Santa because they think of the character as a Christmas symbol.
“But some won’t care, and others would say, do it,” he said.
He said the Jewish practice of mitzvah, which he calls “service of the heart,” is perfectly suited to his Santa role.
“It’s a great mitzvah for spreading joy,” said Cohen.
And another Jewish precept is called “tikkun olam,” which means “repairing the world.”
“It’s all about breaking down the walls,” he said.
“Wars build walls and it becomes us versus them. I try to break down the walls and say, ‘ We’re in this together.’”
He has learned how to say hello to children in several languages, including Punjabi and Arabic, which he said thrills the Syrian families registering at the Christmas Bureau.
“The parents warmed up immediately,” he said.
And he was even able to greet a young girl in sign language, telling her he was Father Christmas. “She was just thrilled,” he said. Playing Santa, who evolved over the years from St. Nicholas — a fourth-century bishop later revered as a saint by Catholics for his altruistic habit of secretly dropping gold coins into the homes of needy families — into a commercial symbol of gift-giving every December, isn’t about religion or ethnicities, he said.
“I don’t believe Santa is a Christian symbol,” he said.
“It’s all about acceptance, love and fun.”
In fact, Cohen encourages a “politics- and religion-free zone” around Christmas.
“I’m here to bring love and inclusivity,” he said.
What Santa Ben loves most about Christmas: “The lights. Hanukkah is also about lights.”
And his favourite snack for anyone currying favour: Oatmealraisin cookies and mocha coffees.
The Christmas wish for this retiree, who still works part-time as a flagger in the film industry? “A car. I commute six hours every day.”
His plans for Dec. 25? “This year I’m working at a hotel.”
Sharon Goldberg, a Surrey Christmas Bureau board member who is also Jewish, couldn’t be happier to see Cohen dropping by the bureau to greet the families, which she agrees is mitzvah.
“It just makes me happy,” she said. “When people see Santa, their faces light up.”
The bureau is preparing to open its “toy store” for registered families to shop at, and is going to need more stock, said the bureau’s executive director, Lisa Werring.
“We never want to see the shelves empty when the children come in,” she said.