Bumpus Mills, TN- Weeks of torment at James Polk Middle School of lone Jewish first grader Jerry Steinburg hit its apex this morning. For the last three weeks leading up to Christmas, Steinburg had been the victim of continuous barbs about his beliefs and traditions. The teasing began when first grade teacher Maggie Flynn began decorating her classroom right after Thanksgiving. An appearance of a Jewish Star of David and Menorah on the bulletin board began heated discussions of disbelief when it was revealed that Steinburg’s family did not celebrate Christmas. A kickball game at recess that same day in which Steinburg struck out twice did not help matters. It was on this day that many of the children began to refer to Steinburg as “Jewy Jerry.”
The ostracizing of Steinburg was mostly centered around anti-semitic “Present-Related” discussions. Even the girls chimed in the disbelieve that Santa would not be visiting the Steinburg residence on December 25. Jerry Steinburg repeatedly tried to deflect and explain his family’s traditions by stating that he would be receiving presents every single night of Hanukkah, but this did little to calm remarks.
Leading the “Jewy Jerry” chants was husky, red-headed first grader, Brian Finnegan who added, “Santa hates that Jewy Jerry, he’s not even going to bring him a single present. I’d hate to be Jewish, especiall
y on Christmas. Santa even goes to my weird Uncle Tom’s house, even though my dad says God hates the fact that his roommate is some other guy. Jewy Jerry smells.”
Steinburg’s teacher Mrs. Flynn added “Jerry’s always excelled in Math and Reading…basically every subject. He’s still been getting teased a lot about his special Jewish Christmas that he celebrates. I was surprised when his mother informed me that his family celebrated Thanksgiving… I mean, that’s why I didn’t ask him to participate in our Indian/Pilgrim cake party. The other kids have really been getting on him recently. Maybe he’d fair better with the other children if he tried at kickball a little harder.”
Steinburg’s mother, Linda, attempted to ease tensions by providing the entire class with chocolate Hanukkah gelt. The gesture backfired, when 85% of the candy was used to pelt Steinburg when he failed to recite all the words to the non-secular Christmas song “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” correctly.
Classmate Kyle Dimmons added, “Jewy Jerry kept trying to show me this gay top he was playing with. He said it was for Channukah. It had all these stupid symbols on it and he tried to sing me some stupid song about playing with it. When he handed it to me I just said it had cooties and tossed it.”
Tensions reached their boiling point on Monday during the class holiday party. Steinburg was just trying to get through the party and hope that the week off from school and end of Christmas would return things to normal for him. Steinburg was attempting to have a slice of Jesus Birthday cake prepared by Mrs. Flynn when more taunting began. Brian Finnegan grabbed Steinburg’s cake away and started yelling “Santa Claus hates Jewy Jerry.” Most of the class joined in the chant and it continued until Mrs. Flynn was able to convince the class to settle down. 
At this point Steinburg ran to the coatroom, grabbed a stack of papers and approached the center of class…walking with a sense of purpose and confidence, not yet seen in the young Semite. Steinburg then lowered the volume on the stereo iPod which had been blaring “Frosty the Snowman” drawing all attention on himself. At this point Steinburg stood on a chair and fired off a rant which would ruin Christmas for every single classmate. Armed with flawless logic, colorful handouts and basic Jewish Chutzpah… Steinburg spent the next 15 minutes explaining that there was in fact… no such thing as Santa Claus. It was a stunning moment in James Polk Middle School.
When he was finished with the tirade, there were no chants of Jewy Jerry… no rude comments about Steinburg’s lack of kickball prowess… just silence. Then, as Steinburg had hoped and prayed to his Jewish God every single night of Hanukkah… each and every single first grader in Mrs. Flynn’s class began crying. Dimmons, Finnegan and every single boy and girl started hysterically crying at the thought that there was no Santa Claus. Collectively, Christmas had been ruined for everyone in the class.
A very satisfied smile came over Jerry Steinburg’s face. Amidst the crying, sobbing and shattered dreams of Santa Claus, Steinburg grabbed a big ‘ol piece of Jesus birthday cake, sat down and enjoyed the most delicious snack he’d had in quite some time. The halls of James Polk Middle School were a little brighter for the young Hebrew that day. It was truly, a Hanukkah Miracle.