LOS ANGELES JOURNAL
At One Jewish Home, Making Room for Santa
Axel Koester for The New York Times
Mary Loomis-Shrier, who is Jewish, has decorated her house with the trappings of Christmas: Santa Claus, snow globes and candy canes.
By JENNIFER STEINHAUER Published: December 20, 2006
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 19 — It is fair to say that in a neighborhood largely populated with Orthodox Jews, it is rather unconventional to have a life-size Santa perched on the edge of the roof of a house, attached to a microphone and bellowing, “What is this Hanukkah you speak of?”
It is particularly noteworthy that the Santa, and the elaborate Christmas display
in which he rests, sits outside the home of a Jewish family, sparking the curiosity, and occasional ire, of neighbors.
“Some people are so offended, you have no idea,” said Mary Loomis-Shrier, who has long erected the giant display on a lovely street south of Hollywood. “But
some of my neighbors think it is great. Some of their kids drop their list of toys in my mailbox. I don’t care because I love it, and it is my right.”