“So many of the holiday songs we know and love, were either written or cowritten by Jewish songwriters. The ultimate example of Christmas anthems is White Christmas, (1942), Irving Berlin’s evocation of a pastoral yuletide (where the treetops glisten / And children listen / To hear sleigh bells in the snow). For decades, White Christmas stood as the top-selling song of all time. It is said that Irving Berlin’s song is a nostalgia trip, an ode to Christmas past: “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas / Just like the ones I used to know”, croons Bing Crosby on the recording that made the song famous. Berlin captured the longing that defines Christmas for millions: that hope that the season will bring back yesteryear’s joy, enchantment, and innocence.” from The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia
