What's wrong when the Lord's swaddled over in a Keffiyeh?
Recent events have ignited debates after Pope Francis unveiled a Nativity Scene depicting the Baby Jesus draped in a Palestinian keffiyeh. For many, this artistic choice struck a chord, drawing attention to the historical and political narratives intertwined with the figure of Jesus. However, the controversy surrounding the display also reveals broader tensions about identity, history, and modern geopolitics.
At the heart of the criticism lies the assumption that because Jesus was a Jew, he must therefore be inherently connected to the modern state of Israel. This perspective oversimplifies history and conflates vastly different contexts. The Judaea and Galilee of Jesus's time bear little resemblance to the contemporary state of Israel established under Zionist ideology in 1948. In fact, Jesus lived in a region under Roman occupation, and his teachings often resonated with those marginalized under imperial rule. His identity as a Jew must be understood within the framework of Second Temple Judaism, long before the political ideologies and territorial disputes of the modern era.
The keffiyeh, a symbol often associated with Palestinian identity and resistance, carries a weighty significance in today's geopolitics. Draping Baby Jesus in it can be seen as an artistic attempt to highlight the plight of the oppressed in the land of his birth. Whether intended or not, it invites viewers to reflect on the enduring struggles of the people living in that region today. For those sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, it is a poignant reminder of the parallels between Jesus's historical context and the realities of modern occupation. For others, particularly supporters of Zionism, the image is seen as provocative, perhaps even as an erasure of Jewish historical ties.
But why the insistence that Jesus—a figure revered globally and across diverse traditions—be tied exclusively to one modern political identity? Christianity itself emerged as a faith distinct from Judaism, spreading across the world and transcending ethnic and national boundaries. For Christians, Jesus represents a universal savior whose message of love, justice, and peace resonates beyond the confines of his ethnic or geographical origins. And what if Jesus were depicted in a tallit instead of a keffiyeh? Would such an image be more universally accepted? Those who insist on emphasizing Jesus's Jewish identity often point to his role as the "Messiah," a figure deeply rooted in Jewish tradition. A tallit, a traditional Jewish prayer shawl, would arguably align with this perspective. However, the story of Jesus transcends his identity as a Jewish messiah. For Christians, he is not merely a king or savior for the Jewish people but the "Lamb of God" who takes away the sins of the world. His mission, as understood by billions of Christians, extends beyond the boundaries of ethnicity or national identity.
Jesus is both a Palestinian and a Galilean, Judaean, and Jew. These overlapping identities highlight the complexity of his historical and spiritual significance. The insistence on portraying Jesus exclusively within one framework risks reducing his universality. The keffiyeh or the tallit are symbols—neither fully encapsulates the totality of who Jesus is, yet both can provoke meaningful reflections on his life and message.
The Nativity Scene, like all religious art, is open to interpretation. While some see the keffiyeh as an inappropriate imposition of contemporary politics onto a sacred story, others view it as a legitimate call to engage with the social and political issues of our time. After all, Jesus’s life and teachings consistently challenged the powerful and uplifted the downtrodden. To some, placing him in the context of the oppressed—be they Palestinian, refugee, or otherwise—is entirely in line with his message.
This controversy ultimately reflects the broader struggle over how history is remembered and represented. In a region fraught with conflict, every symbol becomes contested ground. Yet, the story of Jesus, rooted in a specific historical reality, carries a timeless universality. His teachings call for empathy, humility, and a commitment to justice—values that transcend any single cultural or political framework.
Perhaps the keffiyeh-draped Baby Jesus serves as a reminder of this universality, challenging us to move beyond narrow interpretations and engage with the broader, deeper implications of his life and message. The true scandal of the Nativity has always been its radical assertion: that the divine chose to dwell among the lowly and oppressed. In this light, the keffiyeh becomes not a political provocation but an invitation to reflect on the enduring relevance of that assertion today.