Shliach Lobbies for Public Menorah in North Jersey Town
A local rabbi has urged West Milford, NJ municipal officials to wrap up their ongoing dialogue on the town’s holiday display policy.
During a West Milford town council meeting earlier this month, Rabbi Mendy Gurkov of the Chabad Jewish Center in Ringwood renewed his request to erect a menorah and hold a lighting ceremony on the front lawn of town hall. Still, as of Thursday, he has yet to receive an answer and the winter holidays are approaching, he said. This year, Hanukkah starts on Nov. 27.
“I feel like there should have been a decision already made. In Ringwood and Wanaque, we already have dates (for a menorah lighting ceremony),” he told Suburban Trends on Thursday. “I could put up a menorah in a few minutes, but I need time to tell people (if and when it will happen) so they can make it, so they can put it on their calendars.”
Roughly one year ago, the governing body authorized the expansion of its winter holiday display following a request from Gurkov. Traditionally, the display featured a well-lit tree, a few wreaths, and a bulb-draped town hall. The expansion gave applicants the right to place holiday symbols and coordinate affiliated commemorations on the municipal complex for a month. It started off innocuous enough, but like most things in West Milford, did not go without controversy. An American Atheists billboard referring to the “myth” of Christmas was installed in mid-December and was damaged a few days later.
Township officials said the failure to develop formal guidelines before authorizing the somewhat off-the-cuff decision created problems beyond the criticism from residents about the town’s involvement in sponsoring religious displays on public property.
Gurkov said he is hopeful the controversy will not ultimately outweigh the positive aspects of his event.
Last year’s menorah lighting ceremony united more than 80 people in a beautiful, uplifting event, he said. Prohibiting the return of a menorah lighting this year so the local government can avoid potential aftermath from similar events would be depriving the community, he added.
“The children will lose more than anyone else. They don’t see the negative elements,” Gurkov said. “In every town, there will be some wackiness and craziness, but the question is: Will the town leaders step up?”
A petition to allow for a menorah lighting at town hall is currently making its way through West Milford. Still, Gurkov said he is hopeful cooler heads will prevail – that the local government will do what’s right, work out its policy, and tell him when he can hold his ceremony.
When the 2012 holiday season came to an end, local representatives said the plan was to assess and either tweak or trash the new township policy by fall. A council committee made of Councilwoman Ada Erik, who never voted in favor of the expansion during three separate votes in 2012, and first-year Councilwoman Vivienne Erk later formed. On Sept. 4 they recommended the town revert to its prior policy, which would limit the town’s winter holiday display to lights and a tree and its celebrations to a secular singalong.
However, the discussion remains ongoing. During the council’s Oct. 2 meeting, Township Attorney Fred Semrau recommended “a little more dialogue about this issue” in the form of an informal meeting with locals with questions or display proposals.
“I thought it might be a good conversation to have since the subcommittee spent some time working on this issue and it’s not one that is easily done without some legal thought,” Semrau said.
Gurkov he is awaiting the call from the town administration. Still, with the clock ticking, he is considering another nearby location to hold a ceremony and erect a menorah – at least temporarily.
“There will be a menorah lighting somewhere in West Milford,” Gurkov said.
