"Why need we adopt the Christmas tree, ridiculously baptized a Chanukah bush?" - Henrietta Szold in the Jewish Messenger newspaper dated January 10, 1879
אמר רבא אטו התם משום קדושה ולאו קדושה הוא דלמא מוליד בן ואזיל פלח לעבודת כוכבים וה"מ בהיותן עובדי כוכבים כי מגיירי בישראל שרו ורבנן הוא דגזרו בהו וכי גזרו בהו רבנן בהנך דבני אולודי אבל האי דלאו בר אולודי לא גזרו ביה רבנן
Rava interjects, is the reason for the prohibition “do not intermarry with them” a matter of sanctity? Rather, it is out of fear that the intermarried couple will have a child who will worship idolatry. This prohibition against intermarriage applies only againstnon-Jews, but if they convert, they are allowed for marriage.
(2) Exodus 23:13 states, “Make no mention of the names of other gods; they shall not be heard on your lips.” From the last part of this verse, “they shall not be heard on your lips” the Rabbis created a midrash that a Jew should avoid giving a non-Jew a reason to bring a sacrifice or libation to his foreign god. Therefore, during the three days preceding pagan holidays, Jews should avoid any business transactions with non-Jews, lest the non-Jew thank his god for this transaction.
(א) סדר משא ומתן ובו סעיף אחד:
אחר כך ילך לעסקיו דכל תורה שאין עמה מלאכה סופה בטלה וגוררת עון כי העוני יעבירנו על דעת קונו ומכל מקום לא יעשה מלאכתו עיקר אלא עראי ותורתו קבע וזה וזה יתקיים בידו וישא ויתן באמונה ויזהר מלהזכיר שם שמים לבטלה שבכל מקום שהזכרת השם מצויה מיתה מצויה ויזהר מלישבע אפילו באמת שאלף עיירות היו לינאי המלך וכולם נחרבו בשביל שהיו נשבעים שבועות אע"פ שהיו מקיימים אותם ויזהר מלהשתתף עם עכו"ם שמא יתחייב לו שבועה ועובר משום לא ישמע על פיך:
Rama: And some are lenient with partnering with idolaters these days because the idolaters of these times do not swear by idol worship. And even though they mention the foreign idol, nevertheless their intention is to the Creator of heaven and earth, except that they join the name of Heaven and [foreign gods]. And we do not find that there is in this (a violation by the Jew of) "Before a blind person you shall not place a stumbling block," because the idolaters are not enjoined regarding partnership [of God with idols].
Rabba says: The dispute between Rabbi Meir and the Rabbis is only with regard to statues that are erected in villages. But with regard to those that are erected in cities, all agree that they are permitted, i.e., that it is permitted to derive benefit from them. What is the reason? It is because they were fashioned for ornamental purposes and not for worship. The Gemara asks: But with regard to those erected in villages, is there anyone who says that they are fashioned for ornamental purposes? Those in villages were certainly fashioned for idol worship. How, then, can the Rabbis maintain that such statues are permitted?
§ The mishna teaches: And the Rabbis say: The only statues that are forbidden are: Any statue that has in its hand a staff, or a bird, or an orb, as these are indications that this statue is designated for idolatry. The Gemara explains that each of these items symbolizes the statue’s supposed divinity, indicating its dominion over the world: A staff symbolizes dominion as the idol rules itself under the entire world, i.e., it rules the entire world, like one rules over an animal with a staff. A bird symbolizes dominion as the idol grasps itself under the entire world, i.e., it grasps the entire world, as one grasps a bird in his hand. An orb symbolizes dominion as the idol grasps itself under the entire world, i.e., it grasps the entire world, as one grasps a ball in his hand.