Brooklyn Heights, NY – Woman Fights for Chanukah Lights and Prayer in Her Hallway

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    Brooklyn Heights, NY – A woman is claiming her freedom of worship is being denied because a menorah is not allowed in the lobby of her co-op building.

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    Justine Swartz, who also goes by the name Justine Juggler because of her ability to juggle seven items at one time, alleges that this Chanukah it is forbidden to light a menorah and pray in the lobby of her building at 24-30 Clinton Street.

    “My building’s menorah lights have been extinguished,” said Swartz. “I have not kept the Jewish commandment that requires the menorah to be lit in a public place.”

    Swartz, who has lived in the building for about 25 years, said at one time the lobby boasted both a Christmas tree and a menorah, but now the building is decorated only with non-religious holiday ornaments, reefs and holly.

    Swartz said when she complained to the BPC Management Corporation, who manage the property, she was told, “You wouldn’t want a Nativity scene, would you?”

    But Swartz countered that she wouldn’t mind a Nativity scene and even helped decorate the Christmas tree when they used to put it up until recent years.
    She also believes Kwanza should be represented in the lobby.

    “I believe space should be made available in this season of brotherly love for all people that want to pray and pay respect to God,” she said.

    Swartz believes the entire situation stems from the current co-op board who have made new bylaws prohibiting any display of religious representation in the common areas of the building.

    A spokesperson for BPC Management Corporation said the co-op board makes the rules and refused further comment.

    Neither Co-Op Board President Paul Schmitt or Vice President Carol Desantis could be reached for comment.

    In the meantime, Swartz has an ally in 84-year-old longtime resident Joan Roll.
    “They used to have both a Christmas tree and a menorah,” recalled Roll. “It would be fine with me to have them again, and I don’t know why they got rid of them.”


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    30 Comments
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    Moishe
    Moishe
    14 years ago

    Why can’t she do like the rest of us and simply light a menorah in her window?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Why can’t yidden light their menorahs at home, place them in the window if they want a “public display” and stop hocking a chiniq about putting a menorah in the lobby, the courthouse or the local park. Enough already.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Why does it need to be in the lobby? Its this latest disturbing trend that Jews seek equality… People, we are in exile and are not equal, period. Esav Sonei L’Yaakov. Stop crying like babies about our equality. It aint gonna happen, and it aint supposed to happen…

    professor
    professor
    14 years ago

    I was in a building. i opened my apt. door, and lit right next to it, within the confines of my apt. it was visible to the people passing in the hallway, and was not in their way or face. (my neighbors were jewish.)

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    She sounds just a bit misguided…

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    “Justine Swartz, who also goes by the name Justine Juggler because of her ability to juggle seven items at one time” — Wow. That’s pretty amazing!

    May Hashem help her get the Menorah in the lobby where she wants it. Kol HaKovod!

    To #3 — You are the baby. Grow up already. It is supposed to happen, and it’s gonna.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Let’s see her juggle seven lit candles! What about the last day (and what about the shamash)?

    Mr. Green
    Mr. Green
    14 years ago

    Before I can relate to this serious issue I would have to know if the menorah she intends to place in the hallway will have straight “kanim” (branches) as Chabad insists on or curved kanim.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    We’re in golus, stop with those menorah wars, there’s no requirement to fight and put up a fuss to have it next to a x-mas tree.. light it in your home, and don’t put up a storm on a totally unnecessary issue.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    One of the rabis once said ven they are going to hit me for this in shoomayim I will know that I am almost done. Let them. Be makpid with all mitzvas like this one and moshiach would have long been here. What a shonda

    formelly
    formelly
    14 years ago

    people like her must realize that there are many different type of people here than 20 years ago

    what will happen if every person will want their religious symbol Jews, Hidu, Muslim, Christen, Buddhist, Wicka, Just to name a few

    yasher koach
    yasher koach
    14 years ago

    Keep on fighting – who knows, maybe one of the tayere yidden of the “we’re in golus” choir will notice your menoira and his pintele yid will be awaikened and he will remember, that we’re not in golus to quietly enjoy it but to actually work for geulo. Then he will do tshuvo.

    Turn darkness into light.
    Moshiach N O W!! Mamosh.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    To all the people who live in the shtetlach of bp, f, w, ch and so on: to you it doesn’t matter. The the rest of us, the ones feeling golus the menoros in malls, in parks, in the news remind us at a time when we are swamped with the ‘loving beauty” of their holiday that we have something much more meaningful. They not only inspire us to do mitzvot ourselves but actually deter MANY from surrendering and ‘joining the x-mas gang’.
    Please think about that before posting about how it is not required by the letter of the law. If you can save your brothert from assimilation; if you can inspire your sister to do a mtzvah-Are you not required to do so.
    The Lubavitch Rabbi knew exactly what he was doing when he started this battle despite criticism. He really cared about even the lost Jew in the stix. Do you?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    how do you decorate a hallway with reefs?

    LARRY LENNHOFF
    LARRY LENNHOFF
    14 years ago

    From what I can tell from google maps, the building is at least 5 stories high. If she lives above the second floor, I don’t believe showing the light in her window fulfills the obligation to publicize the miracle.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    A) We are in Golus. It is not appropriate to make such a public fuss about the use of the lobby for her menorah.
    B) There could potentially be very big issues for her to participate in the decoration of a tree….

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    according to the chassidishe minhag we are supposed to b’davka have the menorah in our house, not even by the window but rather by a door inside of the house. This is the true pirsumei nisa – this woman knows nothing about halachah

    Alan
    Alan
    14 years ago

    “Justine Swartz, who also goes by the name Justine Juggler because of her ability to juggle seven items at one time…” Surely every Jewish mother has to do that every day!

    interesting
    interesting
    14 years ago

    Interesting, she can’t light in her home. So really she wants to light in the LOBBY of her co-op building? Well then Muslims should be allowed to bring their prayers rugs to the lobby. And Christians should be allowed to put a HUGE cross in the lobby! I can’t stand uneducated Jewish American Princesses. They don’t read a day in their lives. They just spend daddy’s money and pretend to be a good jewish girl.

    Oy vey
    Oy vey
    14 years ago

    Is this meant to explain why you took down your mezuzo? ’cause you’re too afraid of a big scary goy putting up a tzeilem in a public place and you’d have an urge to bow down to it – out of respect, I mean…

    As for goyim putting up their getchkes and carpets etc. all over the place – news for you, they do it anyway and they don’t need your permission. If every Yid on the planet puts up ten menoiros in public places, it’s still going to be but a drop of light in an ocean of avoido zoro. (Mind you it would be a gevaldige zach and)… Anyway, let the noitzrim put up their wooden things – it’s their country. Let the ishmoelim spread their carpets – it’s not their country but they will blow things up if they are not allowed to. What is it your business? A Jewish Princess (you meant to say “Bas Melech” I’m sure), should receive all the encouragement and support from us to put up a menoiro in her hallway. End of story.

    eitzageber
    eitzageber
    14 years ago

    People should do as the Halachah says. We all light Chanukah candles indoors. The Gemorrah and shulchan Aruch also knew how to learn

    Esther
    Esther
    14 years ago

    Just another story of a Jewish person making an issue over something ridiculous and causing undo attention! Regardless the menorah needs to be near a window not in a lobby.I totally understand the concern..it’s a safety issue.