Fort Collins allows only xmas trees on public property. A Jewish group has gotten the OK to light the symbol of Hanukkah,
U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard will participate in a holiday celebration organized by a Fort Collins Jewish group that disagrees with the city's policy of allowing only xmas trees to be displayed on public grounds.
Allard will join the Jewish leaders and Mayor Doug Hutchinson in the lighting of a menorah on Dec. 21, in recognition of the annual eight-day Hanukkah celebration that begins the night of Dec. 15.
A brief menorah display
Fort Collins allows only xmas trees on public property. A Jewish group has gotten the OK to light the symbol of Hanukkah,
U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard will participate in a holiday celebration organized by a Fort Collins Jewish group that disagrees with the city’s policy of allowing only xmas trees to be displayed on public grounds.
Allard will join the Jewish leaders and Mayor Doug Hutchinson in the lighting of a menorah on Dec. 21, in recognition of the annual eight-day Hanukkah celebration that begins the night of Dec. 15.
Allard’s spokeswoman said he is not taking a stand on the city’s policy. But Rabbi Jerachmiel Gorelik of the Chabad Center of Northern Colorado said Allard’s participation sends a strong message to Fort Collins leaders that they are failing to acknowledge the diversity of faith in the city.
“We’ve been trying to bring recognition that there are people who celebrate the holiday season a different way,” Gorelik said. “And the city has not been helping me do that.”
But, said Gorelik, “if Hanukkah is good enough for the senator, then it should be good enough for the city council.”
Gorelik and other residents invited Allard several weeks ago and he accepted because he had no scheduling conflicts, Allard spokeswoman Laura Condeluci said.
“He’s done several holiday celebrations in the past, including xmas tree lightings,” Condeluci said. “This is one he was invited to and looks forward to participating in.”
The city last year denied the Chabad Center’s request to place a menorah on city property, including sharing space with a xmas tree, during the holidays. Earlier this year, the city council decided to stick with the policy of allowing only a xmas tree in the city’s holiday displays, saying it is a secular symbol of the season.
Gorelik is permitted to light the nine-branched candelabrum in Old Town Fort Collins on Dec. 21 and then move it to a local pub. Allard, Gorelik said, probably recognizes that the menorah is part of a mainstream celebration of the holidays.
City Councilman Ben Manvel said he’s happy a menorah will be shining in downtown Fort Collins. But he still backs the stance of not allowing religious symbols to be placed in public displays.
“I don’t like the fact that people are offended by us having xmas trees in our displays and not religious symbols,” Manvel said. “But we are just not trying to have the city in the middle of what can and cannot be displayed.”
Yael
This is so annoying. This is happening all over the place. If it’s a Christmas tree, then it must have something to do with Christmas, which is obviously a religious holiday. Just look at the name!!!! Since the goyim have turned xmas into a “secular” holiday, using that logic, we could say that the menorah is a l’havdil, “secular” symbol since most Jews aren’t religious. Let’s see what they do when the blacks start complaining about no kwanza stuff. Then it becomes a civil rights issue. And who are civil rights lawyers????? Liberal Jews!
David T. Melchior
Why is it so important to light a menorah in public places? Shouldn’t we jews be advocating seperation of religion from the public sphere? It’s almost like we have to stoop down to their level and beat them at their own game – c’mon, where’s supposed to be the smaerter ones!