Jewish Symbols Removed and Hanukkah Celebration Canceled Around the Country
Hanukkah celebrations and Jewish symbols are facing cancellation and removal across towns in the United States, leading to criticism of municipalities for bowing to pressure from pro-Hamas activists amid the ongoing conflict in Israel.
In Williamsburg, Virginia, a menorah lighting scheduled to take place at the 2nd Sundays Art and Music Festival on December 10 has been canceled.
Shirley Vermillion, the festival's founder, deemed the lighting "inappropriate" considering the war, she said on social media. While the festival claims to be inclusive, the decision to avoid religious affiliations has resulted in Christians and other groups being turned down in the past.
The United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula condemned the decision, highlighting the antisemitic nature of holding Jews collectively responsible for Israel's policies. They emphasized that the menorah lighting had nothing to do with the conflict and called out the double standards being applied.
In Westbrook, Maine, a Star of David was removed from a holiday light display and replaced with a dreidel.
Arab American residents found the Star of David "offensive" in relation to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Westbrook Mayor Michael Foley cited legal requirements and the need for inclusivity as the reason for the change.
Similarly, in a Canadian town, the decision to not display a menorah outside city hall for the first time in 20 years has sparked outrage.
City officials referenced a 2015 Supreme Court ruling banning religious prayers at municipal council meetings. The decision to exclude the menorah while allowing a Christmas tree and angels has been deemed unfair and hurtful to the Jewish population.
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These instances of Hanukkah celebrations being canceled, or symbols being removed highlight the challenges faced by Jewish communities in the midst of the Israeli-Hamas conflict. Critics argue that these actions have unfairly targeted and excluded Jewish symbols and traditions while allowing other religious symbols to remain.
The October 7th terrorist attack by Hamas killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel, according to the Associated Press, and around 240 people were taken hostage. During the truce, 105 hostages who were being held in Gaza were freed in exchange for 240 Palestinians who were being held in Israeli prisons.