Almost two decades ago, shortly after moving to New York City, I was set up on a blind date—a nice Jewish lawyer my aunt had met at her synagogue. Shortly after the small talk ended, he told me that he had just finished registering a complaint with his employer, a midtown white shoe law firm. “They had a Christmas tree in the lobby but no Hanukkah display. It was ridiculous.” When pressed, of course, he turned out not to be offended. He just thought he should say something on principle.

I was reminded of this story after reading that the president, for the eighth year in a row, has neglected to mention the word “Christmas” in his Christmas card. Instead of writing about Christmas, Jesus, the Bible, or Rudolph, the Obamas said, “Happy holidays. As our family reflects on our many happy years spent in the White House, we are grateful for the friends we’ve made, the joy we’ve shared, and the gifts of kindness we’ve received. We wish you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season and a wonderful new year.”