Growing up Jewish, I never had a Christmas tree in the house. I'd see them in stores, on TV, or at friends' homes looming over a mountain of unopened presents. Frankly it looked like a lot of work.

Si Spiegel, a Jewish World War II pilot credited with popularizing the mass-produced artificial Christmas tree, died Jan. 21 at his home in Manhattan. He was 99. After returning from his ...

He recalled a saying from a previous JCC class, posed to a Jewish spouse who was uncomfortable celebrating Christmas: “So you’re okay with having a Christian in the house, but not a tree?” ...