New York – The co-op board at 2 Beekman Place on the East Side has no love for the Jewish Festival of Lights and is refusing to put up a menorah alongside the nine-foot, stylish Christmas tree in the lobby of the swanky building.
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Co-op board member Alann Dinkoff alleges that the menorah is a religious symbol, while the Christmas tree is, “a holiday decoration, not a celebration of Christmas.” Dinkoff says the tree is akin to the poinsettias which were placed in the lobby merely “as holiday decorations.”
But Charles Mirotznik, 59, the resident who requested the menorah, says Dinkoff’s reasoning is “hogwash.” “The White House has a menorah and the White House stands for what? Democracy in America, right?” Mirotznik told the Daily News (http://nydn.us/U7mSsv). “If we can’t get it together in a co-op, you think we can get it together in the world?”
Dinkoff has said the board will consider the possibility of adding a menorah for Chanukah next year, but in the interim, the next 12 months will give the board “the opportunity to give these difficult issues the necessary thought.”
it is hogwash
bull either have none or both.
this is worth fighting over?
It sounds like Mr. Dinkoff is a self-hating Jew….
A yiddishe kup truly misguided. If there Is anyone left wondering why there is massive assimilation in America – just ask Alann Dinkoff . It doesn’t matter if he’s Jewish or not, ( although I would bet that he was) many secular liberal Jews are fanatics about the separation of church & state and believe very strongly in what Dinkoff is trying impose upon this country. Rachmana
“as holiday decorations.” Ah. That makes sense. Tell me, what holiday are we talking about? No alternate side parking enforcement? As if they park on the street….
It never fails. And mr. Dink Off (Or, dumkopf) proves it. In all cases (100%), those adamantly opposing to accommodate any symbol of religious observance will be of Jewish descent. Be it an Eiruv in the Hamptons or New Jersey. or permitting installation of Mezuzahs in a coop or condo.
Why do some ppl have this compeling need to shove our religion to other ppl. Leave it alone
Is there really a requirement to put a menorah anywhere else but inside our shuls and inside our houses?
Isn’t trying to put any sized menorah together with the “holiday” lights of the populace around us really perpetuating some of the Hellenism that we’re trying to get away from in Channukah? At best, it’s mixing the menorah, a symbol of taharah and love from HaKadosh Baruch Hu, with the sheer commercialism that seems to have overwhelmed the surrounding festival. At worst, aren’t we mixing (and perhaps somewhat confusing) our Avodas Hashem with avodas something else.
“Alann Dinkoff alleges that the menorah is a religious symbol, while the Christmas tree is, “a holiday decoration, not a celebration of Christmas”
Nice lomdishe chilluk! He may be a self hating Jew but he still has his yiddeshe kup!
“while the Christmas tree is, “a holiday decoration, not a celebration of Christmas.”
So what holiday is it a decoration for?
Dinkoff and company should be sued for millions of dollars they will comply very fast –
Why do we allow the slaughter of tens of thousands of trees for decoration alone; if its not somehow to celebrate the Christians gods birth then we should outlaw the practice. Also, this fight has already been decided in courts across America thanks to Chabad; the ruling is that if there is a tree there must be a menorah
Let’s not fight this fight…we need to keep ourselves separated in some areas and this is one. Enjoy your mezuzah at home like we are supposed to! Let the goy enjoy theirs in all of it’s commercial fancy.
Remember NY (despite its large Jewish population) is still Galus. Come home to Israel and you’ll have Chanukah Menoras plenty in any building lobby you want.
I could not say it better than Reb Dovidel (#9). See his well stated comment.
Menorah is both a religious and secular symbol (Knesset Menorah).
I am so looking forward to living in a retirement condo. The fighting! The excitement! The yelling!