BY MICHAEL D. CLARK and AMY HIGGINS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Twenty five years ago, Bob Rubin didn't have much to do on Christmas Day. So the Jewish Deerfield Township resident found a job for himself. He put on a red suit and beard and became Santa Claus.
Mr. Rubin, a member of Temple Sholom in Amberley Village, said he didn't set out to be a symbol of a Christian holiday. He sees the irony of being a Jewish Santa but doesn't dwell on it.
It's not that important, he says -- not as important as what Santa stands for.
"I was intrigued to do something different," Mr. Rubin said, "especially knowing that at the same time I was helping someone else. We all need to give, this is my way of giving."
Mr. Rubin knows his way through Children's Hospital Medical Center's many hallways. For the last 22 years he has visited the sick infants and teens there as Old Saint Nick.
His wife, Marian, accompanies him as Santa's elf as they push a converted hospital cart packed with toys. Mr. Rubin sticks his head in each room to see if anyone would like to see Santa. Many more times than not, they do.
"It's wonderful," Josh Davidson said Thursday, moments
after Mr. Rubin brought a smile to his 10-week-old daughter in Children's for an exam and observation.
Debra Davidson said that Mr. Rubin's being Jewish made his appearance as Santa more special.
"All the different (ethnic groups) should be helping each other this way," she said.
Mr. Rubin and a group of men from his temple founded the Mitzvah Corps 25 years ago to help others by relieving Christian volunteers at hospitals. Members of the Mitzvah Corps -- which now includes women and children -- still work reception desks, cafeteria lines and other volunteer jobs at area hospitals so Christian workers can have the day off.
But about two years after the group got started, the director of volunteers at Bethesda Oak said their real need was a Santa to pass out gifts the hospital auxiliary had made. Patients had been sending the gifts back to the kitchen, thinking they were meal tray decorations.
An on-site Santa passing out gifts was needed, said hospital officials.
"Well, I think you've found me," Mr. Rubin recalls telling them.
And since that time, Mr. Rubin said he is getting to resemble Santa "more so and more so." He wears a fake beard, but frontal padding is no longer required.
"Let's just say I've grown into my costume," Mr. Rubin said. Barbara Glueck, area director of the Cincinnati chapter of the American Jewish Committee, praised Jewish Santas for "making a lot of people happy."
But Ms. Glueck emphasized that the cross-denominational Santas were just some of the more visible Jewish volunteers that offer to fill in at jobs for Christians during Christmas Eve and day.
"They are reaching out to folks in other communities and recognizing their need to celebrate," she said of the dozens of Jewish volunteers who work at area hospitals, and elsewhere, during this holiday. "It's a very generous act," she said.
Generosity is one of the main motivations for Alan Soloman donning his Santa suit today and visiting three area hospitals.
Mr. Soloman, a Cincinnati-based accountant, describes the Christmas rounds he has made for the last five years as simply "giving back to the community."
He said the cross-religious volunteer effort by area Jews is a sign of greater religious tolerance and cooperation.
"It's showing all people that we can all get along. A lot of people appreciate it," said Mr. Soloman, who will visit adults and children today at Christ, Deaconess and Good Samaritan hospitals. 'All the different (ethnic groups) should be helping each other this way.' -- Debra Davidson
