Q&A: Is It Permitted to Wish a Non-Jew a Merry Christmas
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Is It Permitted to Wish a Non-Jew a Merry Christmas
Question
Hello Rabbi,
If I have an online friend who doesn’t know that I’m Jewish, and he wished me a Merry Christmas, is it permitted for me to wish him back a Merry Christmas as well?
Best regards
Answer
I wouldn’t do so, although in my opinion nowadays this is not really a religious holiday, so there is no actual prohibition involved.
What’s customary among secular Jews is to wish something along the lines of:
Have an enjoyable break or season’s greetings, without mentioning the holiday itself.