Celebrating the Jewish composers whose songs became the soundtrack of Christmas.
ONLINE
TUESDAY, 2:00-3:30pm (ET), December 9 - 16, 2025
“Jewish Christmas is unashamedly capitalist, its prime symbol a tree with presents piled high all around, and in this way, it banishes the religious character of the holiday. Jewish composers’ Christmas songs feature snow, reindeer, Santa, fireplaces, and trees sparkling with lights, rather than the infant Jesus.”
— Tablet Magazine, “Christmas, the Greatest Jewish American Holiday” by David Mikics
Course Description:
From White Christmas to Let It Snow!, from Silver Bells to The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, many of the songs that define the Christmas season were created by Jewish composers and lyricists. In this joyful and enlightening session, we’ll explore how these talented Jewish songwriters—often children or grandchildren of immigrants—channeled their own stories, values, and love of American popular music into melodies that became global holiday treasures. Along the way, we’ll uncover how their work bridged cultures, warmed hearts, and added a distinctly Jewish note to the soundtrack of Christmas.
Tuesdays, 2:00 - 3:30 pm (ET)
Dr. Alan Mason is a graduate of the University of Miami, where he was awarded the Doctor of Music Arts degree in 1993, and the Manhattan School of Music, where he was awarded the Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees. Additionally, Alan has completed Post Doctoral studies at Northwestern University (Operatic and Vocal Accompanying), and Hebrew Union College (Liturgy and Worship for Synagogue Musical Directors). Alan is Professor Emeritus of at Barry University, where he retired in 2014, and presently teaches Music History for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes at the University of Miami and FIU, and JCC-U at the Miami Beach JCC. Alan is the Director of Music at Bet Shira Congregation, and the conductor of HaZamir Miami, a chapter of HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir.
