An Illinois city sparked controversy by restricting a Hanukkah Menorah Exhibition to a few hours instead of a full eight days.
As of Tuesday, more than 6,500 people have signed a Change.org petition calling for Lake Forest to allow a menorah display at its Market Square shopping center for the year Duration of the vacation.
“The City is pleased to support Chabad of Lake Forest’s Menorah Lighting and Hanukkah Ceremony in the Market Square on Sunday, December 29, 2024 at 4 p.m. Mayor Stanford Tack will participate by lighting the center candle of the menorah, and other local elected officials are expected to attend,” the city, located north of Chicago, said in a statement.
“While the ceremony is a valued community event, the menorah will not be left unattended in the marketplace following the event this year,” it added. “Based on the legal guidance provided by the City’s attorneys, the City must either grant all requests for extended exhibitions by private groups on public property or deny them outright to ensure safe public access and consistent use of public spaces.”
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A Hanukkah menorah will be lit in Lake Forest, Illinois, in December 2023. (Chabad of Lake Forest)
“Because approving all of these requests could create challenges in the management of public spaces, the city has chosen to allow only temporary exhibitions as part of organized special events by community groups,” it also said.
The Change.org petition written by a self-proclaimed local “interfaith family” said that last year’s menorah display in the market square was held for eight days and “given us great joy and was well received by our community.”
“However, to our dismay, we learned that this year the city will only allow the menorah to be displayed for a few hours on the evening of December 29th. “This decision undermines the inclusive spirit our city has demonstrated last year and deeply disheartens us, like many other families who appreciated that the menorah reflected the diversity of our community,” it continued.
“Let us push for the reinstatement of the menorah in the marketplace, not just for one night, but for all eight nights of Hanukkah, continuing the practice of honoring and showcasing the rich cultural and religious diversity in Lake Forest,” concluded she.
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In December 2023, Chabad of Lake Forest hosted a menorah lighting event. (Chabad of Lake Forest)
Rabbi Moshespalter of Chabad of Lake Forest told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that 2023 was “the first time we actually had the event there, and it was the first time we had the menorah up there for the entire eight Hanukkahs.” -days.”
“They loved the idea last year, but this year I think they thought about it even more and changed their mind,” he said.
Spalter said he would prefer that a menorah be allowed to remain in the city for the entire eight days of Hanukkah.
Last year, the menorah was allowed to stand at the town square in Lake Forest, Illinois, for the duration of Hanukkah, according to Rabbi Moshespalter. (Chabad of Lake Forest)
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“We’ve been trying to get the city to do it, but it’s not that easy, and now that it’s so close to Hanukkah, we’re just hoping that next year we’ll start working on it immediately and hopefully “Next year they will be able to allow it,” he told Fox News Digital.
“I encourage everyone to come out and make this event an unforgettable experience for the city of Lake Forest,”spalter also said. “It’s a beautiful event and especially given all the noise, I think it’s great that the community is coming together and celebrating us all.”
The city of Lake Forest did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital on Tuesday.
