New York – East Side Co-Op Board Refuses to Put Up Menorah in Lobby

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    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.”

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    20 Comments
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    Boochie
    Boochie
    12 years ago

    it is hogwash

    shredready
    shredready
    12 years ago

    bull either have none or both.

    Phineas
    Phineas
    12 years ago

    this is worth fighting over?

    12 years ago

    It sounds like Mr. Dinkoff is a self-hating Jew….

    UriLevi
    UriLevi
    12 years ago

    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

    Barzilai
    Active Member
    Barzilai
    12 years ago

    “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….

    bigwheeel
    bigwheeel
    12 years ago

    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.

    commonsense99
    commonsense99
    12 years ago

    Why do some ppl have this compeling need to shove our religion to other ppl. Leave it alone

    RebDovidel
    RebDovidel
    12 years ago

    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.

    sechelyoshor
    sechelyoshor
    12 years ago

    “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!

    My2Cents
    My2Cents
    12 years ago

    “while the Christmas tree is, “a holiday decoration, not a celebration of Christmas.”

    So what holiday is it a decoration for?

    Barsechel
    Barsechel
    12 years ago

    Dinkoff and company should be sued for millions of dollars they will comply very fast –

    12 years ago

    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

    yosefben
    yosefben
    12 years ago

    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.

    DanielBarbaz
    DanielBarbaz
    12 years ago

    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.

    Erlich
    Erlich
    12 years ago

    Menorah is both a religious and secular symbol (Knesset Menorah).

    PaulinSaudi
    PaulinSaudi
    12 years ago

    I am so looking forward to living in a retirement condo. The fighting! The excitement! The yelling!