It’s very infuriating to hear that not only are public Chanukah celebrations being cancelled but citing the reasoning as taking a side in the Israel-Hamas War.
I landed back in Chicago last night to learn that a Jewish-owned restaurant, Goldie, was targeted by antisemitic protestors. The protests were rightfully condemned by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Senator John Fetterman, The White House, and other politicians. When people target Jewish-owned restaurants, is is antisemitism. These acts should be called out for the Jew-hatred that they are. Other Philly area businesses were vandalized by protestors on Monday afternoon.
Before I write further, here are recent pieces on SATM:
The United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula issued a statement about the upcoming cancellation. Here’s a brief excerpt:
The Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula is shocked and alarmed at LoveLight Placemaking’s decision to cancel a menorah lighting scheduled for the Second Sundays Art and Music Festival on Dec 10 in Williamsburg – claiming it did not want to appear to choose sides in the Israel-Hamas conflict. To be clear, the menorah lighting, which was to be led by a local community rabbi, had nothing to do with Israel or the conflict.[…]
We should be very clear: it is antisemitic to hold Jews collectively responsible for Israel’s policies and actions, and to require a political litmus test for Jews’ participation in community events that have nothing to do with Israel. Those standards would never be applied to another community.
(Edit: Following publication, I learned that organizers have now found another location for their Chanukah lighting according to the Times of Israel.)
How did it get so bad that Jews cannot celebrate Jewish holidays in public?!? Hopefully, the backlash will lead to a reversal similar to what happened in London. There was a major backlash following the Havering Council’s decision to pause the Chanukah Menorah installation. A joint statement was issued on Friday between the council and local Jewish leaders. Thankfully, it was reversed.
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