Fort Collins, CO — 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 Christmas trees to be displayed on public grounds.
Click here for a recent radio interview with Rabbi Gorelik
Jewish group has gotten the OK to light the symbol of Hanukkah in Old Town
Fort Collins, CO — 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 Christmas trees to be displayed on public grounds.
Click here for a recent radio interview with Rabbi Gorelik
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 Christmas 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 Christmas tree, during the holidays. Earlier this year, the city council decided to stick with the policy of allowing only a Christmas 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.
bobby
We as chasidim specialy shluchim should be above being defensive i’m sorry to say but he sounds offensive very unprepared no direct answer……..remember as chasidim shluchim zeinen der rebins kinder
moshe q
defensive? offensive?
which interview did you listen to? rabbi gorelik gave smooth, clean answers without missing a beat.
mimenu yir’u vichain ya’asu
old friend from aussie
I heard the the radio of Yerachmiel.
He spoke very well. Its not an easy task living in the wilderness! Good on ya aussie.
Borat
good interview, the aussie accent helps.
this whole ordeal just got you much publicity. one comment you should describe the menorah as a universal symbol mesage for light.