Opinion: Speaking Out Against the War in Gaza Cost Me My Job as Santa

Ken Dorph, a consultant residing in Sag Harbor, New York, was invited to play Santa at the renovated art deco movie theater, Sag Harbor Cinema, in the charming whaling town of Sag Harbor, New York. Having lived in the village for over 30 years, he has found that the whaling heritage and resilient, independent nature of Sag Harbor resonate with him. The small village has been a gathering place for artists, intellectuals, and independent thinkers, from Betty Friedan to John Steinbeck.

Ken Dorph

Family Photo

Playing Santa was a joy and I was told that I was a natural. I loved interacting with the children and fully embraced the role. I always reassured them that Santa knew they had been good. I made sure to embody Santa for everyone, including the local rabbi's young daughter who came to see me. I told her that Santa loved everyone, and we had a lovely conversation. The Guatemalan parents were surprised when I spoke to them in Spanish, but the children weren't fazed at all, saying, "Of course, Santa speaks Spanish. Didn't you see 'Miracle on 34th Street'?"

The local newspaper conducted a delightful interview with me in my role as Santa, asking playful questions such as whether I had encountered Krampus and what my favorite cookies were. Subsequently, the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce enlisted me to be their St. Nick. As the Chamber Santa Claus, I arrive in the Village on a firetruck, ringing the bell before meeting with children at the windmill. The original Saint Nicholas, whose name inspired our modern Santa Claus through the Dutch Sinterklaas, resided in modern-day Turkey. In Western cultures, our Santa incorporated this legacy with Nordic traditions, including the concept of Yule.

In the 1930s, Swedish-born artist Haddon Sundblom used his very Scandinavian face as the model for the famed Coca Cola ads, cementing the look. Of course, nowadays Santa could be Black, transgender, or Chinese, but that image is still the one that stares back at kids from their books. Santa is special, a kindly grandfatherly magician who answers kids dreams. That's why I have so loved inhabiting this character.

Dr. Sally Kornbluth, President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, provided testimony at a House Education and Workforce Committee Hearing in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. The hearing focused on holding campus leaders accountable and addressing the issue of antisemitism. The event took place at the U.S. Capitol and was documented by Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via AP Images.

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However, my connection to the spirit of Santa has deeper roots linked to my personal journey of embracing and reaching out to different cultures. For years, I have found myself in a unique position. On one hand, I have a strong emotional tie to Jewish culture and a deep understanding of the longing for a Jewish state. I grew up in a predominantly Ashkenazi Jewish housing project in Brooklyn, where I even served as a Shabbos goy and had neighbors who bore tattoos from the concentration camps. My educational experiences at Stuyvesant High School and the State University of New York at Binghamton, both with significant Jewish student populations, further reinforced my emotional connection to Jewish culture, which continues to resonate with me in many ways.

At the age of 19, I traveled to Morocco as part of a life-changing junior year abroad program. This experience led to my immersion in the Arab world, where I studied and eventually pursued a career. I am proficient in Arabic and have worked extensively throughout the Middle East, contributing to repair efforts in countries affected by conflict, such as Iraq, Yemen, Syria, the Palestinian territories, and Libya.

My time in the Middle East fostered deep connections with the people of the region, and I am frequently called upon to share my insights. Following the tragic Hamas attack and the consequential Israeli response, many friends and community members sought my perspective. On October 28th, I delivered a presentation titled "Palestine / Israel: What Gives?" to a packed audience at a local church in Sag Harbor. The reception was overwhelmingly positive.

About a month later, I found myself sitting in the audience at the local synagogue, attending a lecture on the topic of "Answering the Tough Questions" about Israel. The intriguing title led me to see the invitation as an olive branch extended to me. It fed my ego to think that I was specifically invited for my unique Middle East expertise.

People stand behind a gate as the bodies of Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes are laid on the ground at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip, amid the continued conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. (Mohammed Salem/Reuters)

Biden's suggestion that a ceasefire would save lives in Gaza is mistaken. Upon reflection, the discussion appeared more focused on evading difficult questions about Netanyahu's government and its actions against the Palestinians. I raised objections to the inaccuracies presented and expressed my disappointment in the unhelpful and propagandistic nature of the talk.

The presentation failed to address the important "tough questions" necessary for peace in the region, which I pointed out. It was a missed opportunity for genuine discussion, especially as thousands of Palestinians were being killed by American weapons.

A few days later, I was notified by the Sag Harbors Chamber of Commerce that I had to give up my fur-trimmed red suit, wide black belt, and jingles because I was considered too outspoken to be Santa. This news was devastating. Not only did I lose the opportunity to ride in the Village on the firetruck dressed as Santa, but I also felt punished for expressing my opinions in a different role.

The Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce's Executive Committee has released a statement indicating that Dorph was requested to step aside from his role after he shared a social media post that portrayed him as Santa without the Chamber's approval. Additionally, his recent actions in public forums were also cited as reasons for this decision. The Chamber emphasized their tradition of hosting a straightforward meet-the-Santa event, free from controversy and with the anonymity of Santa being maintained.

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After a journalist friend reached out to the New York Times, a reporter contacted me. Despite some initial hesitation due to the small town setting, I ultimately decided to share what had happened. The newspaper published the story, which gained global attention. Since then, I have been invited to portray Santa Claus in various locations throughout the United States and even abroad.

Predictably, this controversy has sparked further discussion about the sensitive topic of discussing Israel and the Palestinian people without facing criticism. I sincerely hope that the animosity it has caused locally will evolve into reconciliation and understanding.

I strongly believe that open and informed discussions lead to the best solutions, based on my experience in running a consulting practice. I hope this approach can also be applied to the complex issues in the Middle East, particularly the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. This conflict is not a natural disaster, but rather a man-made problem that requires human-made solutions. I am confident that with the willingness of all parties involved, a resolution can be achieved.