Conversation with...
Rabbi Yosef Wolvovsky
Chabad rabbi links public menorah
lightings to religious freedom
In the winter of 1975, Rabbi Chaim Drizin, founder of Northern California Chabad, had a novel thought. Why not erect a giant menorah in a public place and host a communal candle lighting ceremony? And so, the nation's first public menorah - a 22-foot-high mahogany structure, designed and funded by rock music promoter Bill Graham - was lit in San Francisco's Union Square.
Today, Chabad oversees the lighting of thousands of menorahs the world over.
Recently, the issue created controversy in Seattle, Washington, when, several months ago, Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky of the Chai Center of Greater Seattle requested that an 8-foot-tall menorah be erected next to the largest of many Christmas trees on display at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac).
The airport refused and, when Bogomilsky threatened to take his case to court, the airport authorities decided to remove all the Christmas trees. Incensed, airport staff prepared to bring in their own trees to place at ticket counters.
"The Jewish community at large is offended by the removal of the Christmas trees," said Bogomilsky, who never intended for airport authorities to remove the trees and, thanks to misguided media reports, was besieged by hate mail.
Describing the menorah as a symbol of the triumph of freedom over oppression, Bogomilsky said, [The menorah] "is a message of hope not just for Jews, but for all people."
Even the Anti-Defamation League weighed in on the controversy, condemning the airport both for removing the trees and for denying Chabad their menorah.
Nonetheless, Port Commissioner Patty Davis insisted that the inclusion of a menorah in Sea-Tac's holiday display might trigger a deluge of similar requests by hordes of other cultural groups. Finally, however, the airport brought back the trees and said they would reconsider the menorah policy next year. The rabbi left his request on the table, but said he would not take it to court.
All this...and Chanukah was still three days off.
In Connecticut, Chabad sponsors public menorah lightings in several towns and cities, including Glastonbury, where Chabad: East of the River will host a celebration and the lighting of a giant community menorah on Dec. 16.
The Ledger spoke with Glastonbury Chabad's Rabbi Yosef Wolvovsky for his thoughts on the Sea-Tac menorah imbroglio.
Q: Do you think it was important for Rabbi Bogomilsky to take a strong stand when Sea-Tac denied his request for a menorah?
A: The case of the menorah on public ground has been fought through the courts and has gone all the way up to the Supreme Court. The court has been very clear that, legally, the menorah is acceptable. Basically, the Supreme Court has accepted the view that the menorah is so ingrained in American culture and it is so a part of the holiday season that it is sufficiently secular to be considered not an intrusion of religion. So, the precedent has been clearly set.
The question then becomes: Given that there are many such cases every year, does the Jewish community want to fight each and every case? Clearly not. And, the truth is that hundreds of town and municipalities all across the country are glad to welcome the menorah as part of the celebration. In general, however, we have to be very careful as a people and as a nation when we are ready to lay low and not stand up for our rights - rights that the Supreme Court has clearly established are ours. We have to be very careful - because if we don't stand up for our rights as a minority, that in itself sets a dangerous precedent. If we don't utilize our rights, we may lose them. I believe that's why, in this case, the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) - who for years was against menorahs on public grounds - issued a statement critical of the airport and supporting Chabad's right to display their menorah. The ADL understands that as a minority we have to protect our rights, and sometimes protecting our rights means utilizing them.
The American Jewish community is as old as the country itself, and we have fought hard for our rights and for minority rights in general. So when we say it might be our right but we're not going to fight for it - we're not going to practice our right - as a people we have to be very careful, because where does that end?
Q: Do you think, then, that at this point the issue in Seattle is less about bringing Chanukah to the people and more about ensuring that our rights remain intact?
A: I think what many people fail to understand is that the menorah is, in and of itself, a symbol of religious freedom. It is the story of the prevailing culture suppressing our right to practice the Jewish religion. So the menorah IS a symbol of triumph of minority rights and the freedom. They are, at the core, the same thing. This stands in direct opposition to the original press coverage of the story in Seattle that suggested that the rabbi wanted to remove other holiday symbols. That is exactly the opposite of what the rabbi wanted. He wants all people to be free to express their religion, as long as it is within the legal rights of the country, which the menorah clearly is.
Q: Why is it important to have a menorah in a public place?
A: From the very beginning, the celebration of Chanukah was both private and public. The mitzvah is not merely to kindle the menorah, but to publicize the miracle. This is why the candles are placed at the window or in the doorpost. A central part of the Chanukah celebration is publicly thanking G‑d for this great miracle.
Nowadays, in particular, I think this is very important for another reason. There are many Jewish people who, for whatever reason, are not affiliated with the organized Jewish community. They are no less Jewish than you and I, and we have a responsibility to offer them the opportunity to celebrate this holiday as well. Our experience shows that this is definitely a positive way to make Judaism accessible to more people. Ultimately, that is the goal of Chabad activities in general, and certainly it is the goal of the Chanukah celebrations. By making this a community celebration, we open it up to anyone who wishes to take part.
Q: Do you think the issue was resolved adequately?
A: The airport had a very simple and non-confrontational way to deal with this issue, and that was to allow one simple menorah to go up as part of their holiday display. Experience shows that that would not create controversy and that it is clearly legal and within the rights both of the airport and the Jewish community. Once this whole situation blew up, I guess this is the best we could hope for. The rabbi made it clear that, considering all the inflammatory issues involved, he is not going to get involved in any lawsuits. His request for a menorah is still on the table, but it's not going any further than that.
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