Simplify Christmas

 

According to Mel Tormé, “The Christmas Song” was written during a record heat wave in 1945. What may surprise you even more is Tormé and his lyricist, Robert Wells, were both Jewish. Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne, who cowrote “Let It Snow,” were Jewish as well. Irving Berlin, who gave us “White Christmas,” was the son of a cantor. “Silver Bells,” “Winter Wonderland” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” were all written by Jewish composers and lyricists. Joan Javits and Phil Springer, the only two on this list still living, wrote “Santa Baby.” Last week I wrote about the Jewish songwriter who gave us “Rudolph,” “Silver and Gold,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “Holly Jolly Christmas,” but there are lots more. Why were so many beloved Christmas songs written by people who didn’t celebrate Christmas? Party because for most of the 20th century, antisemitism was a given in the U.S., in nearly every industry – except entertainment.