The Connecticut Post reports: Fairfield, CT – Pouring rain failed to dampen the spirits of a small group of families huddled on the Sherman Green gazebo to light a menorah on the third night of Hanukkah Sunday.
Neither did three masked men, who carrying Nazi flags and shouting obscenities, tried to disrupt the ceremony until they fled when police arrived.
“I’m glad I was there,” said Fairfield First Selectman Kenneth Flatto.
So was Rabbi Shlame Landa who staged the ceremony for Chabad of Fairfield.
“It’s important to see we don’t back down from spreading goodness and light,” said Landa.
The men, dressed in black, showed up just as the ceremony was beginning, stayed on the sidewalk about 20 yards from the gazebo. Each carried a flag held in outstretched arms. One flag bore a swastika, another an iron cross.
From his vantage point, Flatto said he could hear obscenities, but never felt threatened. He did, however, call police.
In the interim, a number of passers-by not involved in the ceremony started yelling at the masked men. Some waved at the menorah lighters. A few joined in the ceremony. When police showed up, the men left in a car headed west on the Post Road with police trailing behind them. It is unclear if the men were stopped by police.
Flatto said he came to the ceremony to show his support. He said it was important to acknowledge and celebrate as many religions and ethnicities as possible.
(Source: Connecticut Post)
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17 Responses
I was waiting for this to happen.I rememmber in the 1980’s the Gedolim came out against this. The mitzvah of pirsumei nisa is for the bnei bayis not for the goyim in the street.Chabad has to remmember that we are in golus,especialy with an economic downturn,not to flaunt a menorah in their public areas.A lot of these well meaning shluchim are not well educated in this area.Thats how they can go to the Himalayen Mountains and dangerous areas without being afraid.They have an innocent naivity about this.I sense it when I see themm flying with their menorahs on cars as if they think the goyim are enjoying this “spreading goodness and light”.Every other yid cringes when he sees their menorah car parades.Hatzneah Leches”please.
to # 1
I agree with you 100%! I recently saw a non-jew and his wife pass by a chabad car with menorah and I felt very uncomfortable-This is the WRONG way in Golus!
I disagree, we shouldn’t let a few crazy men spoil our chanukah. Most non-Jews have no problem with a few menorahs and wish us a happy Chanukah. They have HUGE displays of trees and decorations in comparison. Chabbad does a great job of doing kiruv, and chanukah is a good time to do it because many Jews do connect with and celebrate chanuka and are grateful that chabbad gives them menorahs and candles.
I totally agree with Detroit1. I dislike the car menorahs, especially when these “young” boys are driving with them on holding up traffic, double parked, etc. I do appreciate the fact Chabad does reach out to Jews who do not know anything, but Public Menorah lighting is unneccessary
When Eisav is on the rampage, the advice of the Zohar is “Chavi Ad Rega, Ad Yaavor Za’am!”–Hide!
To #1: I am LOL!!!!! by your silly comment. If most Jews had your attitude we would probably just live in caves. Our task is to commemorate and publicize (yes, even to goyim) the miracles of Chanukah which Chabad does best. They are doing what Hashem wants and that is to make this world a dwelling place for Him.
When Hashem caused the miracles at the Yam Suf and gave the Torah to us on Har Sinai do you believe that Hashem just wanted us to know about these tremendous miracles? No, davka He desired that the whole world should know. Same with Chanukah.
Cringe??? No, we should be proud (with humility) that Hashem chose us and that He wrought these miracles for us and the world to see.
Besides, I love watching those parades. They make me proud to be a Jew.
Not only does Chabad have to remember that we are in Golus. When any of our orginizations (BMG,satmar, etc..) flex their muscles in the media, they are guilty of same avayra.
Hashem wants us to be a light upon the nations, that did not mean lighting up a huge public menorah!! Kiruv is one thing, but there is a personal responsibility each Jew has in searching for the truth and Hashem. Driving a car with a menorah on it, is not going to “bring back” the fallen Jews, rather davening for all Jews to return, inviting them into our homes for a shabbos meal, that is more meaningful. when I see these Public menorahs it makes me feel as though those Jews are acting like the goyim with their huge xmas trees…why be like them. Chanukah is about our right to be different.
There is a reason that in גלות we don’t light by our windows rather than our doors. R’ Ya’akov Kaminetzky didn’t like the fact that people began wearing Taleisim over their jackets in the street for the exact same reason. There is nowhere in הלכה that’s says there is any sort of inyan of פרסומי ניסא in regards to גוים.
#1 – Chabad has more than “innocent naivety”. They have the willpower and the guts to do things that most jews wouldn’t even think of. This is why they are so successful at what they do. So please do not claim to speak for “every other yid” when complaining about Chabad.
And what does the recession have to do with anything?
To all who feel “uncomfortable” about the public menorahs and all those who feel that klal yisroel should “hide” – What are you embarrassed of?!?! We are the chosen people!!! We are a maleches kohanim v’goy kadosh!!! We should be proud of our heritage, not “uncomfortable” !!!
We can never forget our purpose in this world. Hashem chose us to carry on the great tradition of the Star of the East to bring light to the world. Avrohom Avinu never shied away from his destiny even in the face of the most vicious people. In fact, he did the opposite – he attempted to save the people he encountered.
What better way to celebrate Chanukah than to share with the world a little of the light that is Bnei Yisroel’s privelege.
If a truck drove down your block with xmas songs and y”s you would be upset. Lights don’t make noise. Wherever chabad gets permission to light shouldn’t annoy anyone. It probably makes Jews feel more comfortable that the municipality or country has recognized us. The music may annoy people. After all we don’t own the streets. So why are we making noise in the street?
There is no mitzvah of lighting candles in an outdoor public place and certainly not among goyim. The mitzvah of lighting Chanuka candles is only in one’s home and in the synagogue.
I am in agreement with posters #6 and #10 and not at all embarrassed by showing the world who I am.
The three hate monkers with no nerve to show the world their faces are the issue here. If it wasn’t the Menorh it would be something else that would bring these roaches out of their holes. I just wonder if these same haters go to worship a Jew on Sunday mornings and are planning to celebrate his birthday soon.
#1 “The mitzvah of pirsumei nisa is for the bnei bayis not for the goyim in the street.” This is pure amhoratzus. The gemoro says openly that the pirsumei nisa is davka for the Tarmudo’im in the street, not for the yidden.
#13 Another amho’oretz. The reason we light in shul is specifically because that is where people are to be found. Look it up. Now that people are found at the mall and the town square, that is where we must light.
To # 6 and # 10
You are wrong. Through our actions, deeds and ways, we should make and be a kiddush Hashem in the world. The Gemara says that people will say “look how nice are their ways, how pleasant their deeds etc. This is through our comings and goings and the way we conduct ourselves-not through the flaunting, demanding public displays of religion in a Christian country (where yes BH we have been fortunate to practice our religion in relative peace-so may it continue). We must not take our ‘freedom of religious practice’ for granted and start making public displays and demands for public lightings and displays-it just incurs the wrath of many non-Jews. It is wrong.
#6 and #10 are correct. Chabad is not naive. They don’t make chesboinos with sechel, because miras nefesh is much higher than sechel. This is the lesson of Chanukah. Sechel would have had the Jews like the Menorah with unpure oil. They could have, if pure oil was not found. But NO! They had mesiras nefesh to search and use only pure. Also we must do what Chabad does, specifically because of the Galus. The deeper the Galus, the stronger our fight against it. This too is the lesson of Chanukah. We have nothing to hide. We have religious freedoms and yes, even the Goyim can learn from us. Chabad does not cheshbon who will receive the “light”. Even if no one is perceived to be the recipient, its a spiritual thing whereby when Hashem sees people attempting to be proud and proclaiming their Yiddishkeit “in the street”, He too will return “His Light” to us “down below”, in an indiscriminate manner in this world. Everyone is to benefit. Its all about being “mevarer the avir”, purifying the air. Its all a spiritual thing. It doesn’t make a difference “who’s” to benefit! #13 states there is no mitzva to light ourdoors. This is not about the letter of the law, its about the spirit. BOTH are necessary, let’s not forget that. Otherwise we would be lighting one candle every night!