North Andover, MA - Rabbi: Civil Rights Violation with Limiting Menorah Display to Just One Day |
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News Source: Eagle Tribune
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Asher Bronstein, rabbi at Andover’s Chabad Lubavitch lights Chanukah menorah in 2008North Andover, MA - A rabbi said the town is violating his civil rights by denying his request to erect an 8-foot menorah on the town common for the eight days of Hanukkah.
Selectmen told Asher Bronstein, a rabbi at Andover’s Chabad Lubavitch, he could put the menorah up for one day only. The board said a new town common use policy that went into effect this summer allows organizations to put up displays for just one day no matter what they are.
Bronstein said he doesn’t understand why the selectmen cannot bend the rules and he’s hired an attorney, Robert Meltzer of Framingham, to fight the ruling.
North Andover selectmen did allow Bronstein to put up his menorah for eight days last year, but for the eight years before that it was always a one-day thing.
Selectmen said they did not have rules in place last year.
Bronstein called the selectmen’s decision “moving backward,” adding that placing the menorah on the common is not hurting anyone.
“I truly feel if we only put it up this year for one day and then take it away, it’s desecrating the festival,” Bronstein said. “It would be an injustice.”
Hanukkah, or the Jewish “festival of lights,” runs from Dec. 11 to Dec. 18. Bronstein also requested to have a candle-lighting ceremony on Dec. 13 on the town common.
Selectmen’s Chairwoman Tracy Watson said if they change the rules for Bronstein, they will have to do it for everyone. She said the board established the policy to be fair to all groups, religious or not, giving them equal time.
“This has nothing to do with religion,” Watson said. “It’s policy-making.”
Selectmen are frustrated by the hot water they find themselves in as the holiday season kicks off. Over the last couple of days, members have faced pressure from some in the community to dump the one-day policy and accept the request. They’ve been bombarded with phone calls and there’s the threat of a lawsuit.
Watson questions where all the controversy was when they established the policy.
The board spent months coming up with a town common use policy. It held public hearings, met with residents who live around the common, and talked to town groups.
No one came out to protest this one-day rule, Watson said.
“We were trying, honest to God, to be equitable to all people of all faiths throughout the year,” Watson said. “We’re not putting one religion over another. Everybody gets one day.”
Selectman Rosemary Smedile said it gets hard without rules.
“Some holidays last a day, some eight days, others a month,” she said. “We wanted to be fair and inclusive of everyone, whether they are Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Muslim.”
The display rules also are there to protect people who live around the common, the selectmen said.
Watson said the same rule will hold for any symbol, whether it’s a cross, crescent, Christmas tree, snowman or Nativity scene.
“They get one day, too. I do feel bad, but it’s our obligation to enforce the rules. I mean, they’re brand-new and we’re already going to break them?” Watson said.
The town does decorate trees in the common with white lights, which is OK under the policy because it is town-sanctioned and is not tied to any one holiday.
Selectmen said they will review the use policy to see if they should make changes in the future, but for now, they plan on upholding their stance.
Bronstein said he will likely not put up the menorah, and hold a lighting ceremony, if he cannot do it for all eight days.
He may have to look for private property to use.
While Bronstein has requested to place a menorah on North Andover’s town common, he has not asked the same thing of his own town, Andover. He said they place a large menorah outside their temple on the corner of routes 28 and 133, which he finds sufficient.
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Read Comments (44) — Post Yours »
1
Nov 26, 2009 at 12:07 PM Liberalism is a Disease! Says:Report as Inappropriate
I'm kewl with it, IF there are no scenes there for the bday celebrated on dec 25 or kwanza. And dont give me this bull about it "just being a tree" or "just being a winter scene" because you know thats trash.
2
Nov 26, 2009 at 12:19 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I think that people need to pick their battles. If the town rule is one day across the board, what basis is there for a lawsuit and why ruffle feathers? You feel pirsumei nissa needs a 8ft menorah" Good! Do it on your lawn, in your shul, house, whereever you can do it b'sholom.
3
Nov 26, 2009 at 12:51 PM Milhouse Says:Report as Inappropriate
"I do feel bad, but it's our obligation to enforce the rules." Why is it their obligation? Were the rules handed down from God? No, they made them up themselves. So what's so holy about them? Why must they enforce them? They made a bad rule, now let them recognise their mistake and change it or not enforce it.
" I mean, they're brand-new and we're already going to break them?" The fact that they're brand new is exactly why it's OK to break them. I could understand an argument that these rules are generations old, received from their ancestors, and they feel obligated to keep them. But a rule that they only made up last Thursday? What's wrong with breaking that?
The bottom line is that there is no compelling reason why this rule must exist in the first place, and it needlessly restricts the free exercise of religion, so it's wrong. If the town were a federal agency the rule would be illegal under RFRA; since it's a state agency it's probably legal unless MA law says otherwise, but it's still wrong.
4
Nov 26, 2009 at 02:09 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
This is crazy every year this story repeats itself albeit in a different locale. This is very disturbing there is no inyan to light a menorah in the town square it just causes hate remember we are in golus
5
Nov 26, 2009 at 02:15 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
How long will the town xmas tree be up??
6
Nov 26, 2009 at 02:58 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
the halacha is ner ish ubaiso not ner ish ubaiso v'iro, (v'ir hasomuch l'iro, v'ir hasomuch l'ir hasomuch l'iro)
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Nov 26, 2009 at 03:10 PM agree with #4 Says:Report as Inappropriate
youre right, every year another person makes the headlines by doing the same thing.
some places the point was just the opposite- that a menorah could only be up for one day while the decorated tree can be up the whole time.... Now that's something that you can try to change. but here if they say one day across the board then why fight it? Do it somewhere else... its ok- still Pirsumai Nisa
8
Nov 26, 2009 at 03:45 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ the halacha is ner ish ubaiso not ner ish ubaiso v'iro, (v'ir hasomuch l'iro, v'ir hasomuch l'ir hasomuch l'iro) ”
They should erect a menorah and nativity scene side by side and allow both to remain for the 8 days of chanukah. This way both sides will get thier symbols although there is no chiyuv to put oversized menorahs in the public square.
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Nov 26, 2009 at 05:30 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
were in golus its wrong to make a big deal about nonsense
10
Nov 26, 2009 at 06:03 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ They should erect a menorah and nativity scene side by side and allow both to remain for the 8 days of chanukah. This way both sides will get thier symbols although there is no chiyuv to put oversized menorahs in the public square. ”
There is no chiyuv, no inyan, no mesorah, nothing. I have been researching this to the best of my ability for several years now and I have never found an example of this being done (a public hannukiah lighting in a public square) in 2000 years of golus. As far as I can determine, this is 100% a chiddush by chabad.
As soon as I saw the headline, I knew it was chabad behind this. This lawsuit is baseless (as the city treats everyone the same.. one day). But that's not good enough for chabad who, determined to do something we have no basis in doing in the first place except their own innovation, accomplish nothing but stirring up hatred among the goyim.
Remember a couple years ago when the chabadsters in WA state threatened the airport with a last minute lawsuit and the airport took down their xmas stuff?
This behavior is an emarassment to all yidden
11
Nov 26, 2009 at 06:54 PM Getzel the Pretzel Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ There is no chiyuv, no inyan, no mesorah, nothing. I have been researching this to the best of my ability for several years now and I have never found an example of this being done (a public hannukiah lighting in a public square) in 2000 years of golus. As far as I can determine, this is 100% a chiddush by chabad.
As soon as I saw the headline, I knew it was chabad behind this. This lawsuit is baseless (as the city treats everyone the same.. one day). But that's not good enough for chabad who, determined to do something we have no basis in doing in the first place except their own innovation, accomplish nothing but stirring up hatred among the goyim.
Remember a couple years ago when the chabadsters in WA state threatened the airport with a last minute lawsuit and the airport took down their xmas stuff?
This behavior is an emarassment to all yidden ”
"As far as I can determine, this is 100% a chiddush by chabad."
Unfortunately, it is more than a chiddush; it is chukas hagoy, see the Minchas Yitzchak.
12
Nov 26, 2009 at 07:14 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ "I do feel bad, but it's our obligation to enforce the rules." Why is it their obligation? Were the rules handed down from God? No, they made them up themselves. So what's so holy about them? Why must they enforce them? They made a bad rule, now let them recognise their mistake and change it or not enforce it.
" I mean, they're brand-new and we're already going to break them?" The fact that they're brand new is exactly why it's OK to break them. I could understand an argument that these rules are generations old, received from their ancestors, and they feel obligated to keep them. But a rule that they only made up last Thursday? What's wrong with breaking that?
The bottom line is that there is no compelling reason why this rule must exist in the first place, and it needlessly restricts the free exercise of religion, so it's wrong. If the town were a federal agency the rule would be illegal under RFRA; since it's a state agency it's probably legal unless MA law says otherwise, but it's still wrong. ”
YAY! Milhouse has an opinion again!
Luckily for us we now know how to think about this!
13
Nov 26, 2009 at 07:17 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ the halacha is ner ish ubaiso not ner ish ubaiso v'iro, (v'ir hasomuch l'iro, v'ir hasomuch l'ir hasomuch l'iro) ”
No, the halacha is "Bishto Hachailoh Bo ravsin Yishpot. V'esrim Maaolsim Yafsupach Nital. Es Bum Badabing Bada boom Bam Bam".
14
Nov 26, 2009 at 09:11 PM HELLO?!?! Says:Report as Inappropriate
Wake up! if there can be an xmas tree there can be a chanuka menoirah!!!!!
its noit a chabad chidush its say it clear in shulchan oruch "PISUMEI NISA"
and i can testify that over the years since chabad started this hundreds and thousands of jews were encouraged and inspired to light them self, and proud to be Jewish!
enough with the negativity, What do you do for world Jewry? what did you today to bring moshiach closer?!
15
Nov 26, 2009 at 09:40 PM serel chana maness Says:Report as Inappropriate
you're right,it's golus and we all want the redemption! the rebbe has stress that we are citizens of the united states too, and you are saying that we don't deserve this right and we should make ourselves indivisible-this is a big problem in america,the jews think that you should melt into the wall and only breathe to work and take care of yourselves. and this means we aren't citizens? l'm a 4th generation american and l have a right to religion freedem just as the chiristen do and they start put there stuff up right after thankinggiving. imm geula
16
Nov 26, 2009 at 10:09 PM nosson Says:Report as Inappropriate
If he's willing to erect his menorah for one day only they should let him show his erection in the town square for one measly day.But 8 feet tall? That's a big erection! Too showy. Belongs in a big reformed temple
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Nov 26, 2009 at 10:27 PM Richard Nixon Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ you're right,it's golus and we all want the redemption! the rebbe has stress that we are citizens of the united states too, and you are saying that we don't deserve this right and we should make ourselves indivisible-this is a big problem in america,the jews think that you should melt into the wall and only breathe to work and take care of yourselves. and this means we aren't citizens? l'm a 4th generation american and l have a right to religion freedem just as the chiristen do and they start put there stuff up right after thankinggiving. imm geula ”
With all due respect to the rebbe a"h he was at most a daas yochid in this matter. The gedolai yisroel of the rebbe's generation never encouraged yiddin to push ourselves into every else's face. They encouraged us to be thankful to America for the chassodim they have done for us, implied therein is the fact that we are orchim here as we have been everywhere we have ever lived in galus.
18
Nov 26, 2009 at 10:35 PM Richard Nixon Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Wake up! if there can be an xmas tree there can be a chanuka menoirah!!!!!
its noit a chabad chidush its say it clear in shulchan oruch "PISUMEI NISA"
and i can testify that over the years since chabad started this hundreds and thousands of jews were encouraged and inspired to light them self, and proud to be Jewish!
enough with the negativity, What do you do for world Jewry? what did you today to bring moshiach closer?! ”
Can you tell me the siman and s'if in shulchan aruch in which you think you saw the idea that you should build a twenty foot menorah in the town square and sue any town that doesn't give you equal time and space as they give santa and rudolf?
19
Nov 26, 2009 at 09:55 PM Richard Nixon Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Wake up! if there can be an xmas tree there can be a chanuka menoirah!!!!!
its noit a chabad chidush its say it clear in shulchan oruch "PISUMEI NISA"
and i can testify that over the years since chabad started this hundreds and thousands of jews were encouraged and inspired to light them self, and proud to be Jewish!
enough with the negativity, What do you do for world Jewry? what did you today to bring moshiach closer?! ”
My parents and grandparents taught me to light chanukah menorah because shulchan aruch says to light chanukah menorah, not because it will bring moshiach. RMB"M says we are mechuyav to wait for Moshiach every day. I don't think he mentions doing something every day to make him arrive.
20
Nov 26, 2009 at 10:13 PM Richard Nixon Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Wake up! if there can be an xmas tree there can be a chanuka menoirah!!!!!
its noit a chabad chidush its say it clear in shulchan oruch "PISUMEI NISA"
and i can testify that over the years since chabad started this hundreds and thousands of jews were encouraged and inspired to light them self, and proud to be Jewish!
enough with the negativity, What do you do for world Jewry? what did you today to bring moshiach closer?! ”
Really? Do you always make such foolish claims in public? Or only after a strong double shot of Kool Aid? You can personally testify to hundreds of thousands of people to light chanukah menorah? I hope you don't actually testify to that under oath. Even a brain-dead lawyer ask you how managed to see hundreds of thousands of people light in their own homes, when there aren't hundreds of thousands of menorahs lit on any given night of chanukah, with the POSSIBLE exception of eretz yisroel.
21
Nov 26, 2009 at 10:18 PM Richard Nixon Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ YAY! Milhouse has an opinion again!
Luckily for us we now know how to think about this! ”
Uh Oh. Now you've gone and done it. You've gotten Millhouse angry. He'll have to accuse you of not even being Jewish.
22
Nov 27, 2009 at 01:36 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ With all due respect to the rebbe a"h he was at most a daas yochid in this matter. The gedolai yisroel of the rebbe's generation never encouraged yiddin to push ourselves into every else's face. They encouraged us to be thankful to America for the chassodim they have done for us, implied therein is the fact that we are orchim here as we have been everywhere we have ever lived in galus. ”
And that is why so many formerly secular Jews are attracted to communities built by the shluchim of the Rebbe as opposed to the insular communities that don't push themselves into everyone's face.
The Rebbe recognized that the US is a participatory democracy, a malchus shel chessed where we are not orchim but rather a part of the democratic process.
23
Nov 27, 2009 at 04:13 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ This is crazy every year this story repeats itself albeit in a different locale. This is very disturbing there is no inyan to light a menorah in the town square it just causes hate remember we are in golus ”
you are SO RIGHT
this is a shayla of baal toseif- on a drabbanan- changing the mitzvah- and the bracha is a BRACHA LEVATALAH- just to promote chabad
plus as u say it creates 'aivah' and chillul Hashem- just when the towns are strapped for cash to spend $$$ to argue with Jews........
24
Nov 27, 2009 at 04:17 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Wake up! if there can be an xmas tree there can be a chanuka menoirah!!!!!
its noit a chabad chidush its say it clear in shulchan oruch "PISUMEI NISA"
and i can testify that over the years since chabad started this hundreds and thousands of jews were encouraged and inspired to light them self, and proud to be Jewish!
enough with the negativity, What do you do for world Jewry? what did you today to bring moshiach closer?! ”
we will bring Moshiah closer when we stop allowing this nonsense
since the 'birth ' of chabad- millions of yidden have been murdered- last year in mumbai - think about it
lets get back to Torah based ideaology- not rebbe worship.....
25
Nov 27, 2009 at 09:33 AM anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ the halacha is ner ish ubaiso not ner ish ubaiso v'iro, (v'ir hasomuch l'iro, v'ir hasomuch l'ir hasomuch l'iro) ”
No need for persuma nisei v'iro except for aufreizen the goyim and create more headlines. They forget we are living in the best golus but in a golus. Ignorance can create a lot antisemitism
26
Nov 27, 2009 at 09:28 AM Richard Nixon Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ And that is why so many formerly secular Jews are attracted to communities built by the shluchim of the Rebbe as opposed to the insular communities that don't push themselves into everyone's face.
The Rebbe recognized that the US is a participatory democracy, a malchus shel chessed where we are not orchim but rather a part of the democratic process. ”
Participatory democracy? LIKE GERMANY? The yekkehs also thought they were an integral part of a democratic system. Some went to Dachau believing it. Come to think of it, German Jews were also the ones who gave us the last big movement of those who wanted to run yiddishkeit based upon what secular Jews would find attractive. Reform also thought they were great innovators, out to save yiddishkeit from those dirty, uneducated, tradition-bound, small minded, insular 'auslanders'. Tell me, who influenced who? Did they bring the secular Jews to Judaism or did the secularists take over?
27
Nov 27, 2009 at 09:47 AM anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Participatory democracy? LIKE GERMANY? The yekkehs also thought they were an integral part of a democratic system. Some went to Dachau believing it. Come to think of it, German Jews were also the ones who gave us the last big movement of those who wanted to run yiddishkeit based upon what secular Jews would find attractive. Reform also thought they were great innovators, out to save yiddishkeit from those dirty, uneducated, tradition-bound, small minded, insular 'auslanders'. Tell me, who influenced who? Did they bring the secular Jews to Judaism or did the secularists take over? ”
You are the biggest liar there is. I come from chasidishe family in Vienna. German Jews had some of the finest erliche Yidden and . I was in Buchenwald so shut up and don't spread lies. My son had for a first grade Rebbe someone who was trained in a Lehrerseminar in Germany and he was A'H the most erliche Yid and a talmid chochom and my son wear pyes and a gartel. What you are saying is worst of the worst you are an amoretz and spreading chillul
28
Nov 27, 2009 at 10:09 AM anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Participatory democracy? LIKE GERMANY? The yekkehs also thought they were an integral part of a democratic system. Some went to Dachau believing it. Come to think of it, German Jews were also the ones who gave us the last big movement of those who wanted to run yiddishkeit based upon what secular Jews would find attractive. Reform also thought they were great innovators, out to save yiddishkeit from those dirty, uneducated, tradition-bound, small minded, insular 'auslanders'. Tell me, who influenced who? Did they bring the secular Jews to Judaism or did the secularists take over? ”
You are fortunae you never been in a concentration camp. The poilishe used snear at the Yekkes and the Magyaren, the Hugarian Jews sneered at the Lengyl szydow, and other sneered at the Ostjuden but ultimately some inhaled the same gas and were burned in the same crematorium. Think about this tricky dick
29
Nov 27, 2009 at 10:03 AM Richard Nixon Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ You are the biggest liar there is. I come from chasidishe family in Vienna. German Jews had some of the finest erliche Yidden and . I was in Buchenwald so shut up and don't spread lies. My son had for a first grade Rebbe someone who was trained in a Lehrerseminar in Germany and he was A'H the most erliche Yid and a talmid chochom and my son wear pyes and a gartel. What you are saying is worst of the worst you are an amoretz and spreading chillul ”
Are you Claiming that the Reform movement did not start in Germany? (Please try to respond without the personal insults. If you were Buchenwald you have to be well in your seventies, more likely well into you eighties, bli ayin horah, biz hindred und tzvontzik. spast nisht az al elterer yid ret azoi.)
30
Nov 27, 2009 at 09:59 AM anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
You pen name and your statement fit together both needed to be impeached. Baltimore had a Rav named Schwab. A man beyond reproach and followed the Frankfurter nissach. By the way I davened in the Belzer Klaus, actually thanks to my father A'H
31
Nov 27, 2009 at 10:57 AM Richard Nixon Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ You pen name and your statement fit together both needed to be impeached. Baltimore had a Rav named Schwab. A man beyond reproach and followed the Frankfurter nissach. By the way I davened in the Belzer Klaus, actually thanks to my father A'H ”
I still don't get your point. What does Rav Schwab a"h being a fine and ehrlicher yid have to do with this conversation?? Does it have anything to do with Reform starting in Germany. My mother in law is from a yekkesheh background and we happen to be about as close as two famalies can be with one of Rav Schwab's grandchildren. Does that also change the fact that Reform started in Germany?
32
Nov 27, 2009 at 11:56 AM Hello?! Says:Report as Inappropriate
reply to 24, 18, 19, 20... and all you negetave people...
i dont know what your talking about, did you just blame the deaths of mumbei on Chabad, are you normal?! what r u blown?!!!
i am not going to say it again, either you get it or you dont, you sound like the israle politicions sticking up for the palistinians and giving in, if ther can be a 30 foot xmas tree in rockefelor center and any town square there can be a menorah as well even if you dont want to mix in pirsumei nisa...
btw the entire reason for menoirah by the window is for pirsumei nise, if thats the case, than kal v'choimer in public OUTSIDE your house...
and to 20 thank you for picking on my words, but on behalf of all the 3000 shluchim and chabad bochurim in nyc and all over the world there are yes hundres and thoousands of menorahs giving out throughout chanuka, why dont you go and try it one night...
and to 19 what in the world do you think the rambam meant when he said WAIT for moshiach, sit on your tochus and look at the wall...
can you guys get out of your box, and see that moshiach is coming...
what did you do today to bring moshiach closer?!?!
33
Nov 27, 2009 at 10:51 AM Richard Nixon Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ You are fortunae you never been in a concentration camp. The poilishe used snear at the Yekkes and the Magyaren, the Hugarian Jews sneered at the Lengyl szydow, and other sneered at the Ostjuden but ultimately some inhaled the same gas and were burned in the same crematorium. Think about this tricky dick ”
Obviously everything you write is true. I just cannot understand the context in which you wrote it. Is it meant to challange my statement that Reform started in Germany?
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Nov 27, 2009 at 01:34 PM Richard Nixon Says:Report as Inappropriate
Well, at least you admit that the idea behind the huge menorahs is to compete with the huge tree. Sorry, mein heileger breider, but nowhere in shulchan aruch does it say we should try to keep up with the Clauses or create new customs that are attractive to secular yiddin, r"l.
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Nov 27, 2009 at 01:24 PM Richard Nixon Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ reply to 24, 18, 19, 20... and all you negetave people...
i dont know what your talking about, did you just blame the deaths of mumbei on Chabad, are you normal?! what r u blown?!!!
i am not going to say it again, either you get it or you dont, you sound like the israle politicions sticking up for the palistinians and giving in, if ther can be a 30 foot xmas tree in rockefelor center and any town square there can be a menorah as well even if you dont want to mix in pirsumei nisa...
btw the entire reason for menoirah by the window is for pirsumei nise, if thats the case, than kal v'choimer in public OUTSIDE your house...
and to 20 thank you for picking on my words, but on behalf of all the 3000 shluchim and chabad bochurim in nyc and all over the world there are yes hundres and thoousands of menorahs giving out throughout chanuka, why dont you go and try it one night...
and to 19 what in the world do you think the rambam meant when he said WAIT for moshiach, sit on your tochus and look at the wall...
can you guys get out of your box, and see that moshiach is coming...
what did you do today to bring moshiach closer?!?! ”
Oy, such lomdus. A menorah in your house is good so kal vechomer a lantern in the street. We are supposed to anticipate the arrival of the geula shlaimah so that must mean we are supposed to turn all mitzvos into only a way of bringing it. (I don't know about your Mumbai comment because I never mentioned the subject in anything I wrote.) And now hundreds of thousands is hundreds AND thousands. I guess not ignoring the fact of your numbers being off by 99% is just nitpicking at your words. And what a nice way to speak to other yiddin! I wonder if you are the same guy who wrote last time this topic came up that chabad has made millions of people frum.
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Nov 28, 2009 at 12:00 PM Circles of Light Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Are you Claiming that the Reform movement did not start in Germany? (Please try to respond without the personal insults. If you were Buchenwald you have to be well in your seventies, more likely well into you eighties, bli ayin horah, biz hindred und tzvontzik. spast nisht az al elterer yid ret azoi.) ”
What does Reform have to do with Chabad which is bringing the 613 mitzvos to Jews and the 7 mitzvos to nochrim? And the Rebbe was also smart enough to recognize that unlike Germany, the US belongs to no particular ethnic group. That is why the US is a malchus shel chessed - because while of course we are not home until Moshiach comes and we are in EY, we do have our rights guaranteed by the Constitution and subsequent legislation.
Yes, it is to show that we should be proud of who we are. Indeed, during the kracchtzmas season frei Yidden feel left out and out of place. They know it is not their holiday, but they might not know much else. The menorahs turn this correct feeling of alienation into one of pride for being able to fit in with Jews, and they realize that no matter their background, they are welcome amongst the Chassidim who light and dance in front of those menorahs as they bring more and more Yidden into the circles of light and simcha.
I know, because when I was a little boy I asked my frei parents whether we could have a tree that year. Now, every year I volunteer at least one night of Chanukah with my fellow Chabad Chassidim in front of the menorahs.
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Nov 28, 2009 at 05:57 PM anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ What does Reform have to do with Chabad which is bringing the 613 mitzvos to Jews and the 7 mitzvos to nochrim? And the Rebbe was also smart enough to recognize that unlike Germany, the US belongs to no particular ethnic group. That is why the US is a malchus shel chessed - because while of course we are not home until Moshiach comes and we are in EY, we do have our rights guaranteed by the Constitution and subsequent legislation.
Yes, it is to show that we should be proud of who we are. Indeed, during the kracchtzmas season frei Yidden feel left out and out of place. They know it is not their holiday, but they might not know much else. The menorahs turn this correct feeling of alienation into one of pride for being able to fit in with Jews, and they realize that no matter their background, they are welcome amongst the Chassidim who light and dance in front of those menorahs as they bring more and more Yidden into the circles of light and simcha.
I know, because when I was a little boy I asked my frei parents whether we could have a tree that year. Now, every year I volunteer at least one night of Chanukah with my fellow Chabad Chassidim in front of the menorahs. ”
Your background is the problem. Let the Christians celebrate their x-mas holidays and us light our menorah. You believe that chabad , true in your case, is the moshiach of the world, it is not. During the war in places where death was a 24/7 occurence young boys like myself davened and risked their lives without Chabad. Be tolerant of your freie parents, of other freie Jews and just practice ahavas yisroel and respect for non-Jews and keep I mean keep a low profile
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Nov 28, 2009 at 07:35 PM Circles of Light Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Your background is the problem. Let the Christians celebrate their x-mas holidays and us light our menorah. You believe that chabad , true in your case, is the moshiach of the world, it is not. During the war in places where death was a 24/7 occurence young boys like myself davened and risked their lives without Chabad. Be tolerant of your freie parents, of other freie Jews and just practice ahavas yisroel and respect for non-Jews and keep I mean keep a low profile ”
Sorry. No low profile for me. There are far too many Jews out there searching and we have to be there for them in a way that reaches them, not in a way that reaches us. And if that means turning what is essentially now the glitz of a secular commercial holiday with notzri roots into the kedusha of the menorah, then that is what it is. The trials of your youth are not the trials of today, and we must reach out to those who are experiencing the trials of today in the manner that reaches them today. When you were fighting, Chabad Chassidim were also fighting and keeping chadorim and yeshivas open where death was a possibility for doing just that.
As the Frierdkier Rebbe said to his jailers, that toy (a gun) is only frightening to someone who has one world and many "gods". Even the terrorists of Mumbai did not succeed in killing our spirit. We know where they are, and we know where the Holtzbergs are along with their guests. We know we will see them again, and we know that the terrorists are now getting far worse from Hashem's justice than anything even the one surviving terrorist will get from the Indian courts before he, too, meets his buddies very far down.
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Nov 28, 2009 at 11:10 PM Richard Nixon Says:Report as Inappropriate
What a load of smoke. Not one answer to any issue anyone raised against keeping up with the Clauses, cheapening chanukah into a Jewish xmas and causing anti-Semitism, c"v, by forcing it thru court cases. Not one word to explain why gedolai yisroel never advocated such things. Just smoke and mirrors and changing topics and throwing thbe Holtzbergs, hy"d, into the mix, as if thier brutal murder somehow erases all the legitimate objections raised against such behaivor.
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Nov 29, 2009 at 06:26 PM Milhouse Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ What a load of smoke. Not one answer to any issue anyone raised against keeping up with the Clauses, cheapening chanukah into a Jewish xmas and causing anti-Semitism, c"v, by forcing it thru court cases. Not one word to explain why gedolai yisroel never advocated such things. Just smoke and mirrors and changing topics and throwing thbe Holtzbergs, hy"d, into the mix, as if thier brutal murder somehow erases all the legitimate objections raised against such behaivor. ”
The Lubavitcher Rebbe WAS one of "gedolai yisroel", and he DID advocate "such things". So your claim that "gedolai yisroel never advocated such things" is refuted.
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Dec 02, 2009 at 08:20 PM Reset the record Says:Report as Inappropriate
Dear Richard Nixon,
Let's be clear about what is Chabad and what is Halacha.
The Gemara in Shabbos 21b says that you can light menorah until the Tarmudai leave. According to Rashi, the Tarmudai were NOT Jewish.
Rav Moshe Sternbuch in Moadim Uzmanim -- a very non Chabad sefer -- disagrees. He says that the reason you can light is because if the non-Jews are out, then the Jews will be out too. But you are lighting for the Jews.
According to this, there IS a purpose in lighting in places where most of the populace is not Jewish because Jews will be affected as well.
As far as a Bracha, I don't know. In shul we make a bracha even though we light again at home.
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Dec 03, 2009 at 05:03 PM Skeptic Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Dear Richard Nixon,
Let's be clear about what is Chabad and what is Halacha.
The Gemara in Shabbos 21b says that you can light menorah until the Tarmudai leave. According to Rashi, the Tarmudai were NOT Jewish.
Rav Moshe Sternbuch in Moadim Uzmanim -- a very non Chabad sefer -- disagrees. He says that the reason you can light is because if the non-Jews are out, then the Jews will be out too. But you are lighting for the Jews.
According to this, there IS a purpose in lighting in places where most of the populace is not Jewish because Jews will be affected as well.
As far as a Bracha, I don't know. In shul we make a bracha even though we light again at home. ”
Minchas Yitzchak (6:65), the Shevet HaLevi (4:65), R. Moshe Shternbuch (Tshuvos v'Hanhagos 1:398) all agree that one may *not* recite a beracha for an outdoor menorah lighting. And the Shevet HaLevi and the Minchas Yitzchak both criticize the practice of lighting anywhere beyond what the chachamim ordained (the home and shul).
Now, who says you should light publicly? And who says you can say a bracha?
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Dec 06, 2009 at 12:34 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Here is the bottom line. If the town gas allowed fir their "Holiday Lights" by law, which let's face it are their for Christmas they knowingly excluded the rights if other religions. This is not how our town leaders are suppose to act. I have not been to North Andover recently. However my bet is that there is a Christmas tree. I am a Jew and I am proud if mr heritage. I am also tollerent of others. I challenge the N. A. Selectmen to realize that at very least they have made an oversite.
As far as the comments in regards to the Chabad. I have always felt they are a bit over the top. With that said at times over the top is what is needed to call out s bad policy.
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Dec 07, 2009 at 09:32 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
First off, let me say that I am Catholic. I agree 100% that the Menorah should have been allowed.It was a foolish law that did not take your faith into consideration.I support your Rabbi for standing up for what he believes is the right thing to do.I read that he was against the sign coming down and never wanted that to happen.Then the local newspaper said that he did want the merry christmas sign off the town building, the wreaths off the poles and the candy canes off the schools - very hypocritical in my opinion.He had the support from everyone.Most of all, he had the support from all the other local churches who each were going to take a night and give it to him so the Menorah could be displayed.An act of respect and kindness that I don't think he thought would happen.
I also understand how a Jewish person could feel slighted as the outcry against the law was not as loud as the outcry from the sign coming down.With no disrespect intended, I don't think it was because people disagreed, but that there are just more people who are Catholic, and the more the people the louder the voice.Please know that all faiths are in support of the Menorah being displayed for 8 nights.Thank you.