Evergreen, CO – A recent decision banning a menorah display at a key Evergreen community building has sparked a debate over holiday decorations in the small mountain district.
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From 2005 to 2009, the menorah was displayed in December on the back of the Lake House. But the Evergreen Park & Recreation District decided that the symbol cannot be put up this year.
Some members of Evergreen’s Jewish community aren’t ready to end the debate because a large tree, adjacent to the community’s popular hub, remains adorned with Christmas lights.
The colored lights on a tree are not considered by the governing bodies to be religiously affiliated.
The argument is further complicated by the arm’s-length relationship between the city and county of Denver — owners of the Lake House since the early 1900s — and the property’s manager, the Evergreen district.
In 2010, Hanukkah fell on the first week of December, so it seemed silly to have the display up all month, said Rabbi Levi Brackman, director of Judaism in the Foothills, who lives in Evergreen.
But when he asked to restore the menorah this year — the holiday runs Dec. 20-28 — the district invoked Denver’s rule that forbids religious decorations on public property.
“To just take commands from Denver . . . is just really disappointing,” Brackman said. “It doesn’t feel like community building to me.”
You live in a country that lets you light chanukah candles and has plenty of Chanukah commemorations from coast to coast, whether on T.V., billboards, private displays, etc. Menorah at Lake House is not necessary or even vital.
OK so another small little town wants to try making trouble well no problem they will lose when are these petty officials going to wake up and smell the coffee?
Please show me any posek that there’s any inyan to light a menorah in public places, Torah doesn’t require to do stupid things
It drives me nuts. Every year it’s the same thing. Why do we (those who do it) have to demand to compete with X-mas. Boruch Hashem, we live in a country where we can practice our religion safely and without disturbance. That should be more than enough. We are still in Golus and there’s no reason to provoke Non-Jews and make people mad by demanding to do public lightings, huge Menorahs etc. Thats not the Mitzva-There’s no precedent for it in halacha or hashkafa-Its ridiculous and it’s maddening to watch.
To #4 -Denver Yid- I’m curious to know why you keep referring to a major gentile holiday (as well as a Federal Holiday) as “xmas”. Would you like if the gentiles referred to our Yom Tovim, with a similar connotation? There is no Halachic prohibition against mentioning the name of the holiday on December 25th, which is Christmas.
Hey Obama discuss THAT at your 3 day conference on tolerance.
The Park District is theoretically correct. Colored lights on a tree has nothing to do with Xmas. It’s a pagan winter holiday custom that was co-opted by the Church. In fact, 90% of today’s Xmas symbols have roots in pagan worship – including having the holiday on December 25.
A powerful quote by British Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks at the gala banquet of the Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries.
“Non Jews respect Jews who respect Judaism.
And non Jews are embarrassed by Jews who are embarrassed by Judaism.”
Thank you to all those proud Jews who keep the Menorah bright in so many public places.
To “respect Judaism”-That is a very flawed argument and one that all my Lubavitcher friends try tu use with me to make me feel guilty. I respect Judaism very much and I am not embarassed with my Judaism. That has nothing to do with demanding all these public lighting ceremonies which only serves to anger and provoke non Jews.