Virginia city cancels menorah lighting to avoid appearing to side with Israel

[Karah Rucker]

A VIRGINIA HANUKAH CELEBRATION HAS BEEN CANCELED BECAUSE IT SENDS “A PRO-ISRAEL MESSAGE”  AND WOULD “SIGNAL SUPPORT OF THE KILLINGS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN GAZA.”

THAT’S THE REASONING FROM A WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA ORGANIZER TO CANCEL A MENORAH LIGHTING THAT WAS GOING TO BE LED BY A LOCAL RABBI DURING THEIR UPCOMING FESTIVAL.

SECOND SUNDAY’S DECISION TO CANCEL THE CELEBRATION OF A THOUSANDS-YEAR-OLD TRADITION DUE TO THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR HAS SPARKED CONDEMNATION FROM THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.

THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF THE VIRGINIA PENINSULA SAID: “WE SHOULD BE VERY CLEAR: IT IS ANTISEMITIC TO HOLD JEWS COLLECTIVELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ISRAEL’S POLICIES AND ACTIONS, AND TO REQUIRE A POLITICAL LITMUS TEST FOR JEWS’ PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY EVENTS.”

[Karah Rucker]

SINCE THE OCTOBER SEVENTH ATTACK BY HAMAS ON ISRAEL, AND ISRAEL’S RETALIATORY STRIKES, ANTI-SEMITISM HAS RISEN STARKLY, AND THE CONFLICT OVERSEAS HAS LARGELY DIVIDED THE WORLD BETWEEN PRO-PALESTINIAN AND PRO-ISRAEL SIDES.

SHIRLEY VERMILLION – THE “SECOND SUNDAYS ART AND MUSICAL FESTIVAL’S FOUNDER” – TOLD THE DAILY PRESS: “THE CONCERN IS OF FOLKS FEELING LIKE WE ARE SIDING WITH A GROUP OVER THE OTHER…NOT A DIRECTION WE EVER DECIDE TO HEAD.”

[Karah Rucker]

ACCORDING TO THE “UNITED JEWISH COMMUNITY” LEADERS, THEY SAY THEY WERE TOLD THE EVENT WOULD BE RESCHEDULED IF THE CELEBRATION WERE HELD UNDER A “CEASEFIRE BANNER.” THEY SAY THE MENORAH LIGHTING WOULD NOT BE POLITICAL IN ANY WAY.