Holiday Menorah Stolen from Haddonfield Library Point
The 6-foot menorah was ripped from the ground in a theft reported on Wednesday afternoon.
Photos
A 6-foot, metal Hanukkah menorah was stolen from borough property in front of the Haddonfield Library overnight Tuesday.
The theft was reported on Wednesday afternoon, police said. An eyewitness reported seeing several police cars with emergency lights on and several men wearing yarmulkes, who appeared to be very agitated, shortly after 1 p.m. today at the scene. Police Chief John Banning confirmed the menorah was reported missing but declined further comment.
A metal bracket bolted to the ground with four screws protruding was all that was left of the menorah on Wednesday afternoon. It stood next to a sign reading: "Chabad Lubavitch wishes you a Happy Chanukah."
The menorah was erected by Chabad Lubavitch Synagogue of Cherry Hill. There are no synagogues in Haddonfield. Separate calls to the synagogue and the rabbi who applied for the menorah permit were not immediately returned.
Chabad Lubavitch has erected the menorah for most of the last decade. It was located near an evergreen tree on borough property that is lighted annually during the holiday season and a Nativity scene erected by a group called the Citizens for a Christian Christmas.
This was the first year for the Nativity scene. Citizens for a Christan Christmas don't believe the decorated evergreen tree is a Christian symbol. A resident complained to the borough commissioners at a meeting on Tuesday that the Nativity scene was obstructing part of the tree and that its proximity to it could give the impression that the borough had sponsored the Nativity scene. Officials Tuesday assured the resident the borough had not sponsored any religious symbols.
"These are not sponsored events," borough Administrator Sharon McCullough said Wednesday. "They ask for permission to put them up and we grant them an event application to put a structure on our property."
A menorah lighting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at Library Point, at the intersection of Haddon Avenue and Tanner Street. A borough official said synagogue members intend to erect another menorah. It was not immediately known if it would be erected in time for the ceremony Thursday.
Editor's note: Read an update to this story at Stolen Menorah to Be Replaced Before Lighting Tonight.
Jeff H
6:58 pm on Wednesday, December 21, 2011
I don't condone the theft but not sure why a religious symbol is appropriate on a municipal property.
Rev Dr Gregory O McMillan
7:34 pm on Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The library albeit run by the borough is a public property and The borough has decorated the tree at the point for years! Christmas is a day to celebrate the birth of Christ! At least the two symbols represent something good in this crazy alcohol filled mis appropriated goals world! I think it's time we do get back to allowing faith based values to stand out in our communities and not things or symbols that pull is down. McMillan family was there for more than 115 years until 1999 and I gave a lot of myself so religious freedoms could continue to be expressed. Rev Dr. Gregory O McMillan class of 86'
One road town
12:33 am on Thursday, December 22, 2011
Jeff, I am not for sure how you are not aware of the fact that religious symbols are indeed protected and a right in this country. Starting with freedom of speech, next the right to assemble followed up with the fact this country was founded on the desire to have the right to express different religions freely. Even Thomas Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802 where he stated, "Legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.." There is NO writing stating your liberal socialist rhetoric is valid anywhere, or anytime in our history. The people who have gotten it wrong are the anti Americans, atheists, liberal media, and the socialists. Now while that is not the reason separation of church and state is held in regard, that burden of failure is indeed fallen on the shoulders of the sheeple who do not fight with knowledge and discredit ignorance. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah :)
Matt Skoufalos
1:44 am on Thursday, December 22, 2011
Gary, Jefferson was a Deist, which was enough to be considered godless in his time. And the First Amendment encapsulates at once the rights of the people to freedom of speech, assembly, and to petition the government for the redress of grievances. It was written to oppose English monarchical law in favor of colonial sovereignty, not for any specific religious purpose. So let's try to keep perspective when we're "discrediting ignorance."
Jeff, in answer to your question, this very issue came up in the borough Commissioners meeting Wednesday:
http://haddonfield.patch.com/articles/euclid-st-bus-traffic-nativity-display-ruffle-resident-feathers
From the town solicitor himself:
"...Case law says that 'the government is allowed to have religious holiday displays on borough property as long as the government does not support or fund it.' Five years ago...the borough decided to allow religious displays on a temporary basis during the holiday season after the issue was raised by former borough administrator Richard Schwab.
'The issue is not whether or not the government can erect a religious display, the issue is whether the government can allow public property to be used by religious entities on a temporary basis,'" which, according to case law, it can.
Jeff H
8:53 am on Thursday, December 22, 2011
A christmas tree IS NOT a religious symbol. Again, I don't see how a religious symbol is appropriate on municipal property. Place it on your front lawn if you want, but it's not appropriate on public property. Just my take.
Stephen Lyford
9:58 am on Thursday, December 22, 2011
A religious symbol on public property isn't appropriate if it is funded/sponsored by the borough (or other gov't entity). However, as mentioned in the article, these are merely displays that were erected by non-gov't entities after they had applied for a permit and received permission. This is an equal opportunity to anyone to do the same. I see no problem or conflict of interest in this.
As for why the menorah was taken, I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was merely metal thieves looking for a few bucks at an unscrupulous scrap metal yard. This is a very visible and well traveled intersection, I find it very surprising that someone could have taken it so easily without being seen.
jerry tanenbaum
11:32 am on Thursday, December 22, 2011
i hope you are correct about metal thieves, and agree whoever did this was very intent given the difficulty.
One road town
11:12 am on Thursday, December 22, 2011
Matt, as always, the people who want and choose to interpret our history will always do so for their justification for present happenstance, such as you as choosing to do so now. It does not matter what Jefferson believed as he was writing a letter not legislating law nor do or are his beliefs relevant (Thankfully we had impartial forefathers who wrote for equality above their own personal beliefs, sans what goes on today) .....The sheeple of today do not comprehend a politician doing something for the good of the land, but rather 'what's he gonna do for me...' Maybe I will quote the original First Amendment (December 15, 1791).
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Matt Skoufalos
11:28 am on Thursday, December 22, 2011
I wasn't trying to say that the Constitution is devoid of religious protection, just that it doesn't guarantee the protection of one system of religious belief over another. And it's not really debatable that it's a political document foremost, nor is it necessary to glorify the equality that the forefathers wrote for "above their own personal beliefs," which also included holding slaves as property, and in Jefferson's case, fathering children by them. It's intellectually disingenuous to resort to straw man/ad hominem name-calling attacks in setting up your argument against imaginary "sheeple" instead of sticking to the topic at hand.
Was it Bill Maher who described the Puritans as being "the only people who were too uptight for England"?
jerry tanenbaum
11:30 am on Thursday, December 22, 2011
the larger point here that no one is discussing is what appears to be a statement crime against the Jewish community of Haddonfield. The Christian creche scene is untouched, the Christian Christmas tree is untouched, but the Jewish Menorah is ripped out. Message received.
Not something so easy to do either, given its size and placement in such a public well-lit place. I hope the police take it seriously enought to catch the people involved, and if they do I would hope the crime is investigated as a potential hate crime and not just a theft.
(as for the debates about "secular" vs "religious" symbolism - it's kind of immaterial. Though many Christians may see the tree as "secular", all non-Christians see it as "Christian" -- just like non-Christians see a Dreidal as "Jewish" etc. the town has every right to allow private people acces to public land for such displays, no matter how the group sees its own symbols, so long as the govt allows equal access to all)
(on the other hand, it is not at all "socialist" or even necessarily "liberal" to suggest that relgious displays may not be appropriate at govt institutions. Sensitivity to the concern that every American should feel fully 100% American regardless of faith etc is simply good manners -- not socialism. There is a risk of sending an improper message with govt faith displays that one faith or another is more "American" than the next.)
Jeff H
12:23 pm on Thursday, December 22, 2011
If a religious symbol is erected on public land funded by the public I consider it inappropriate. The houses of worship have their right to display whatever they want, why even get public property involved? I don't deny anyone's right to display whatever they want, just don't do it on property that I fund through my tax dollars.
jerry tanenbaum
5:45 pm on Thursday, December 22, 2011
jeff-- the debate about the Christ-mas tree not being "religious" but a menorah is --is misplaced and not the real issue. there is no such actual seperation in cultural/religious holidays. The division you speak of is all in the mind of the people within the particular faith. A Christmas tree is certainly a symbol of the Christian faith. Indeed, it is not a symbol of anything but the Christian faith. To call it "secular" therefore doesn't make any sense to anyone who is not a Christian, even though within Christianity it may not be deemes as "religious" as the creche scene etc.
I can certainly say that a dreidle or a menorah are both secular and religious to Jews. In fact, I can't even think of a Jewish symbol that is not some combination of both on some level other than the Jewish Bible itself. does that mean to you that Christians can display their symbols but none from Jews?
public land displays are fine so long as the govt doesn't pay for the displays and the govt provides equal access to any and all faiths. Haddonfield has decided to open the park to such displays so it cannot refuse a Muslim, Hindu, Bhuddist etc etc etc request. I agree with you that it might not be the best policy overall. but it is not illegal.
One road town
4:46 pm on Thursday, December 22, 2011
AH and out comes the truth. LOL As yet again shown here anti Americans aka Jeff H are all about themselves. Thank you Jeff for exposing yourself. You ran away from the Constitution, you run away from facts and are left with nothing but your bitter selfish opinions. Some tolerance lol. And please don't use the 'my tax dollars' nonsense, it's weak and has no relevance. Peace be with you, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah :)
Jeff H
5:54 pm on Thursday, December 22, 2011
Gary, glad to see you are open to hearing other opinions. Hope to see you around sometime!
Bill Reynolds
8:24 pm on Thursday, December 22, 2011
And a Joyous Holiday Season filled with malice toward none and good will to all.
Bill Reynolds
Rebecca Savastio
3:19 pm on Friday, December 23, 2011
Gary B.: It's very sad that some people want to prevent others from expressing their deeply held beliefs and I have to take issue with your comment about "the ones who got it wrong". As an Atheist, I was really upset when I read this story, and I would have been equally upset had it been the Christmas tree or other religious (or non-religious) symbol that had been stolen. The vast majority of non-believers respect and honor others, and want them to be able to live and express themselves freely. The founding fathers wanted a new nation where people were free to worship as they chose, and anyone interfering with someone else's right to express their beliefs dishonors the ideals upon which this nation was founded. Yes, there might be a few so-called Atheists out there who are so militant that they would try to interfere with religious symbols on public property, however, most would actually strongly defend the right to freedom of speech and religious expression. And I have a feeling that it was DEFINITELY not Atheists who committed this crime.
One road town
8:05 pm on Saturday, December 24, 2011
@Rebecca, Thank you for your well thought out and articulate response. While we may disagree on life's creation and origin, agreeing on the equal sharing of our land and respecting each other beliefs while we are on this earthly world would make it a better place :) .... And you are right, I doubt that an atheist did this horrible crime.
If I may to try elaborate on my point about which you were troubled by, 'the ones that got it wrong'.... (I will try and keep it brief), The comment was made in part because as a 'group(s)' they are the ones that try and use to misinformation and the distortion of history to serve their agenda (whatever that may be...) An example, recently there is a group in Wisconsin that is an atheist group and they are demanding the removal of a nativity scene in Texas because it's near the courthouse and are threatening filing a lawsuit But as you stated, this might be one of those militant groups, but they are indeed using their own personal beliefs to drive this, not objectionable/fair or even just discourse to be validated. Rebecca I respect what you wrote and believe you are genuine in you thoughts, I mean no malice toward a singular group in general nor do I feel that they are out to malice my beliefs, but individuals who are abhorrently and grossly wrong such as Matt and Jeff they are the problem. As you said, being of faith or not, does not change how we should share land use that is all of ours :) Peace be with you :)
jerry tanenbaum
12:33 pm on Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Well -- the menorah was found, trashed behind one of our schools. I had hoped that it had been metal theives behind the crime, but apparently not. This appears instead to have been an expression of hostility toward the inclusion of a faith-based display that is something other than Christian. As the local Jewish Haddonfield community has grown there have been such occassional issues. imagine what may occur if local residents of yet other faiths start seeking their own displays at the library. Would a crescent moon or a Bhudda be accepted by those who were offended by the Menorah?
Gary - I'm not so certain that you can accurately state that athiests as a group are more prone to distortion than people of faith -- especially in the context of this crime. As you acknowledge, it is not likely athiests who would have been so bothered by one faith display as compared to another. And people of all faiths have certainly not been above distortions in misguided efforts to support their own perspectives, sometimes with rather horrific results. Just one tiny not so serious example -- how often do we hear today about "wars on Christmas" just because some are polite enough to say "Happy Holidays" in a commercial setting?
In any event, I echo an earlier poster who wished everyone health and well-being in both this season and all seasons -- regardless of faith, or no faith etc.
jerry