Amidst the Boston Jewish community’s largest annual Hanukkah party, I brought my kids to hear Hanukkah stories in American Sign Language, a combination of my two great passions in life: Judaism and disability inclusion. To the surprise of many in the room, the story in question – Shmelf the Hannukah Elf – begins in the North Pole, where “you’ll find Santa’s workshop, as most of you know.” 

Well, no, my children don’t know that, I thought, because we’re raising them Jewish, something I would have thought would be expected given the setting. As the book went on, we learnt about Shmelf the Elf’s great sorrow for the good little Jewish boys and girls who don’t get to have Christmas. Moved by Shmelf’s concern for Jewish children, Santa tasks him with bringing magic and joy to Jews everywhere, gifting him a blue and white Santa suit and a flying sleigh pulled by “a Jewish reindeer by the name of Asher.” Thanks to Shmelf the Hannukah Elf, Santa’s magic is now ecumenical! 

Quite a few of the parents in the room were less than thrilled by this programming choice. Minutes in, an argument broke out about the surprise Christmas content. 

 “I didn’t bring my kid to a Hanukkah party to have him hear about Santa Claus,” exclaimed one parent, joining several others demanding an explanation from a representative of the local disability non-profit organizing the activity. “I agree with you! But we only run the room – the museum picks the books!” she countered, pointing in the direction of an accessibility staffer from the Museum of Fine Arts, our venue, who quickly took on an indignant tone in response to the complaints. “The story was selected by our Jewish! Deaf! Educator!”, the........

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