At the request of a West Orange rabbi, Montclair Mayor Jerry Fried is asking council members to consider whether to erect a menorah next to the Christmas tree displayed every December on Church Street.

Rabbi Baruch Klar of the Lubavitcher Center of Essex County asked Fried to consider the move, and Fried sent out an email to council members this week asking for their thoughts. But, he says, it’s not likely the council can take any action on the menorah matter because the next council meeting isn’t until next year. “It’s ultimately going to be up for future discussion,” he says.

Fried says he also reached out to Rabbis Greenstein and Tepperman of Shomrei Emunah and Bnai Keshet, respectively, as well as Judy Tomlinson of the Montclair Clergy Association. Fried says he can’t speak for any of them, but he indicated that they weren’t in favor of putting a religious symbol on town property. He agrees.

“As a policy decision, the township should not decide on one particular religion,” he says. “Displaying all religious symbols keeps with the Constitution and the law. I’m a pretty firm believer in separation of church and state.”

The Christmas tree is different, he says. “It’s not a Christmas tree per se. Displaying trees is more a pagan tradition, more a township tradition.” Like the snowflake lights that hover over Bloomfield Avenue, the tree is considered a seasonal display. A menorah, which is “so clearly associated with Judaism,” Fried says, is not.

Not everyone agrees with that line of thinking. “The tree lighting ceremony goes with the Christmas tradition,” First Ward Councilor Rich Murnick tells Baristanet. “If there are people who have problems with putting up the menorah, then we shouldn’t do it. But I see no reason why it would pose any kind of controversy.”

*Update: In an email to Baristanet, Rabbi Elliott Tepperman writes, “I am not opposed to the idea of the town celebrating Hanukkah. That said I would prefer that if a menorah is to be displayed downtown that it be done as a community event … and as part of a diverse multi-cultural program. Many in my community are wary; menorahs have often been put up as a token effort at parity alongside far more prevalent Christian themed decorations. I am eager to do whatever we can to support our local business but hesitant about the way religious symbols get co-opted or used to promote highly commercial and material tendencies that are in fact at odds with those symbols.”

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Photo from cop4cbt photostream (flickr).

56 replies on “Should Montclair Add a Menorah to Its “Seasonal Display”?”

  2. Did Fried need a headline? Not in the news enough lately? If nothing can happen for this year, then this isn’t a story.

  4. “But I see no reason why it would pose any kind of controversy.”

    Because this town has about 2,000 things that should be on the to do list before this.

    Because if this is what the mayor spent even two minutes on then he needs to pack up his office and resign. Same goes for the town council.

    * said by the baptized girl of mixed faiths who will be lighting her menorah next week.

  5. If you have a tree lighting, then I think you should have menorah. You can call it a “holiday tree,” but let’s be honest, it’s a Christmas tree. At the lighting, the first few songs sung were religious carols.

    I’m not a religious person, however I can’t stand the jumbling of holidays in December. What’s so wrong in honoring everyone’s holiday this month? If you have a tree, you should have a menorah. Heck, even throw in a kinara if it includes everyone. Just don’t pretend a tree is not specific to Christmas and abides by separation of church and state.

  6. I am surprised that as of 2011 going on 2012, this issue has not been resolved. Now we must wait a year. I mean, really…is it such a big deal to include a menorah in the township holiday display?

  7. As I wrote on Patch this morning:

    The Tree on Church street is of the “holiday” variety, not Christmas. The Montclair Town website says as much.

    So, if the tree in question is a “Holiday” Tree, why must we have a menorah? The Town took religion out of my symbol. But yet have no problem with a menorah?

    So if we have a menorah, then I want the Tree and all activity centered around it to be called CHRISTMAS. So until that happens, I cannot support ANY religious symbol.

    If you get your religious symbol with its name– then I want mine!

  8. “But I see no reason why it would pose any kind of controversy.”

    In honor of the passing of Christopher Hitchens today, I would like to share his view concerning why putting up the menorah should pose a controversy:

    “The display of the menorah at this season has a precise meaning and is an explicit celebration of the original victory of bloody-minded faith over enlightenment and reason. As such it is a direct negation of the First Amendment and it is time for the secularists and the civil libertarians to find the courage to say so.”

    Read the full article here: https://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fighting_words/2007/12/bah_hanukkah.html

    I hasten to add that I am a secular Jew. This is not about race but about reason versus faith.

  9. I should add that, if you feel that a menorah goes against separation of church and state, then you really shouldn’t have a tree either, even if you call it a “holiday tree.” Either include them all or have nothing.

  10. {{{shakes head in confusion]]]]

    Seriously, I am all for wishing someone Happy Holidays if you are not sure of his or her religious persuasion but what in the world is a “holiday tree?” Is that a genus like a Douglas fir or Jack Pine? Which holiday are we talking about? Last time I checked, Jews and Muslims don’t include fir trees in their winter holiday celebrations. As Georgette points out, if it’s a generic, pagan holiday tree, then why were Christmas carols sung at the lighting?

  11. We’ve been hearing that the Christmas, er holiday tree, is a secular symbol of the season, with it’s roots in pagan beliefs, and with no real religious significance, blah, blah, blah, ad nauseum. Now they want to place a Menorah, which no one will argue is not a religious symbol sacred to those that practice the Jewish faith, and presto everything changes. I wouldn’t care if they put up an enormous Menorah as long as we got rid of the hypocrisy, otherwise put up a dreidel or something, and we’ll continue to pretend that the Christmas tree, while not religious per se, isn’t central to the Christian celebration of their holiday, and not just a druid fertility symbol…

  15. deadeye, the Christmas tree has become secularized, the menorah, not at all. In fact, it’s a symbol of Jewish defiance. As such I find the Christmas tree far more acceptable in public places than a menorah.

  17. Perhaps we should begin the secularization of the Menorah, Im all for it. Lets put it up and call it something like “a linear candle display”

  18. I think it should be called a Profwilliamsmas Tree or a Debbiemas tree. If it is a Pagan symbol then perhaps Christ won’t mind if we change the name.

  19. Only around here, Martta. In some places, they call it Christmas. And feel no need to elevate a lesser Christian holiday to something akin to, say Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, or Passover.

    It’s funny when my friends are fasting for Yom Kippur or Ramadan, I feel no need to find some Christian holiday around the same time so I can “celebrate” too.

    Likewise, when pals celebrate Pioneer Day, Diwali, Maghi, Nirvana Day, and even the Birthday of L. Ron Hubbard I respect them, ask question and learn.

    And is there where I mention I want a Kinara next to the Menorah, which is next to the Christmas Tree.

    Oh, and don’t forget the Festivus Pole!! If the prof doesn’t see a Festivus Pole so he can air his grievances, someone’s gonna be in trouble!!

  20. Oh, goodie, it’s the annual B’net Christmas/holiday tree discussion. I agree 100% with everything prof said.

  22. What a waste of time and energy. Mid-winter celebration. Solstice. Christmas (even though the Jew who was also known as Jesus was NOT born on December 25th) . Hannukah. Or should it have a “ch” or not?

    Who cares! Happy Holidays! After the 21st, the days will start to get longer again and that’s something to celebrate.

  24. In Maplewood Center the town put up a big beatiful Christmas Tree, and 7 feet or so away, a big gold Menorah, with electric candles. The tree was illuminated last week, I think on the 9th. Beginning Dec. 20th one electric candle will be lit each night.

    Know what ? Nobody has said a word about either the tree or the menorah.
    No big deal, over there, and everyone gets along!!

    Why ya travel 6 miles south, and it’s a big deal. Geeezzz

  26. Yea, that’s right, jg– who cares about the Christian Holiday. Heck, Jesus was a Jew. And born in the Spring. And the Christians stole it from the Pagans……

    Makes me wonder what all the hubbub is even about… All these trees, live Nativity scenes and good cheer.

    I look forward to your similarly respectful comments on Passover.

    But since this is now officially Profwilliamsmas, I will simply propose a chain-linked pen in front of Red Mango where EVERY religious symbol will be displayed.

    Including a signed copy of Dianetics, the aforementioned Festivus Pole, Christmas pudding for the Brits, a KFC bucket for our Japanese friends, some spiked Nog on a Kente cloth tablecloth.

    But all this is best, when funny:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3r7e-BGurE&feature=related

  29. I could go for a winter candelabra. However, if we’re going to do that, we should add a burning torch, a lamb sacrifice, lights, fireworks and a week-long feast that have nothing to do with Saturnalia, Eid ul-Adha and Diwali.

  34. I’m with Nellie on the lamb sacrifice… and Stayhyphy’s on a funny roll on this thread! I’m for letting it all hang out…This is the season of over-the-top ornamentation, where everybody gets to be a decorator. Who cares what religion lurks behind the frou? Hang your stuff, and smile.

  35. There’ll be a debate this afternoon on PBS which will address the question: Would the world be better off without religion? I wonder if they’ll sort through this difficult Christmas tree issue. I like the religious symbols even when secularized. Call them whatever you like and add all that walleroo suggested. They are to the colors in the world. Those stars btw have religious meaning to some.

    When we view religious art in museums is anyone offended?

  36. Well, Dag, the world would be better off without people, but it would be much less fun for us!
    The stories that get passed down and inevitably get changed along the way , along with traditions and celebrations, are what tie cultures together. It’s when people cling to those stories as the one and only absolute truth and twist their meanings to justify any ill will or heinous act toward others with different versions of those stories that causes problems.

  37. Stories? There’s a perfect name for religion or the dogma that rules. But then what “stories” bind the culture of these great United States? Not religion.

  38. Hmm. A Christmas tree is barely the separation of church and state. (And I’m nonreligious, raised Christian, typing this in the light of my tree). I think a menorah would be a festive, inclusive addition to the display. But if we want to keep it to secular symbols what about a nice ice sculpture of a dreidel?

  40. A lot of our “Christmas” symbols are combinations of old religions and agrarian traditions and the mashing of their “stories”. The early Christian church actually prohibited decorating the home with evergreen boughs because it was an ancient pagan custom. Santa Claus is a combination of Norse traditions – Odin’s Yule ride when children would place boots in the chimney to get gifts from him. Which is similar to an ancient Germanic witch who would come down chimneys etc. It all got melded together with St. Nick, and Christmas and the red outfit created by Coca-Cola in the early part of the last century. It’s centuries worth of traditions from all over Europe, many of which were around well before the birth of Christ. Stories.

  41. Whether or not Christmas trees, Santa, or stockings hung from chimneys are traditions that existed before the birth of Christ, seems irrelevant. They are symbols and activities that are for people who celebrate Christmas. My family does not celebrate Christmas. I do not feel that municipalities or schools should sponsor activities or display symbols that are attached to religious holidays. No Christmas trees or menorahs should be paid for by public monies. Let displays and Santa be paid for by religious institutions. So then why does Macy’s have a Santa Claus? Just ask Reverend Billy from the Church of Stop Shopping.

    Gail Prusslin

  42. Put up whatever religious display you want.

    Just be prepared to defend your violation of the Constitution’s First Amendment in court when you are contacted by the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s legal team. And trust me, they will be contacted.

  43. A lot of our “Christmas” symbols are combinations of old religions and agrarian traditions and the mashing of their “stories”.

    So let’s just put a star of David on the top of the Christmas tree, and call it a day.

  44. I think you called the nadir early Roo, this can still get plenty more idiotic. Now excuse me, I’m portraying Balthazar in a Living Creche this evening on my lawn. My camel has chewed my boxwoods down to nubs, Baby Jesus and the Angel are barrel racing the sheep, and Malchior has obviously gotten into his cups and is intent on staging a bullfight of some sort. This is way harder to choreograph than next week’s solstice ceremony, last year one of the druid priests fell onto a dwarf spruce tree, and it was hours at the medi-center.

  46. Time to start shopping for those inflatable “10 plagues upon Egypt” lawn displays, on sale now for next Spring.

  48. I am willing to that *IF* the Montclair Menorah was taken down, tomorrow morning, and placed into dark closet in an undisclosed location, and the Christmas Tree were left standing, this 50-post something or other, topic would end in a nanu second. I bet that no Jew would complain about the Christmas Tree ! (Well, I know that I would not complain about a Christmas Tree.) It’s just the fact that a symbol of ANOTHER religion is also being celebrated. Geeeez Grow Up, people !!

  49. I really don’t care if Montclair erects a menorah next to their tree, but I am bothered by Fried’s interpretation of the tree asnot representing Christmas. I’m not a practicing Jew, but I certainly do not plan to put a ‘holiday’ tree up in home. There’s obviously something wrong with this man’s brain!

  51. A bit late to the discussion… But, I can’t believe this entire discussion. Even if you call it a “holiday” tree, to which “holiday” are we referring? I can only think of one. Am I missing something?

    And, as for the comment about a menorah being a symbol of Jewish “defiance” – I would want to clarify the connotation. It is “defiance” in the sense of a people trying to stay alive when massacres are occurring. Or, perhaps, restoring your place of worship when it has been burned, defiled – and ultimately destroyed.

    Bottom line, if Montclair wants to continue its image as a welcoming community to those of all faiths, then can we stop these inane and poor semantic wars – and celebrate any and all holidays of those who live here, at any time of the year?

    Frankly, for the property taxes each of the residents living here pay, we should be celebrating every single person here.

  52. Yes Zimm. Isn’t it funny how every church has a pagan ‘holiday’ tree inside, yet according to so many here, it is NOT religious. What a crock.

  55. stu, to your point, the Vatican has a very impressive collection of pagan items. It helps them with their balance sheet when the guy from Chubb Insurance stops by. BTW, “crock” is not an especially loving term. Haven’t seen it in the New Testament, or even the Old One, and I suspect Mohammed and Buddha didn’t use it much either. Have some more egg nog, get in the spirit.

  56. I’m all for having the tree up and ornamented with religious symbols taken from all traditions: Jewish, Christian, Islamic, Sikh, Buddhist, Taoist, Hindu, Zoroastrian, Pagan, etc. The more the better!

    (By the way, you MUST agree with me, or else taste God’s loving wrath1)
    😉

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