Ridgewood Council endorses downtown menorah display
Thursday September 12, 2013, 4:24 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
The Ridgewood governing body offered its unanimous support for the addition of a menorah to the downtown winter holiday decorations, a decision that garnered approval and applause from the many residents attending this week’s council meeting.
Additional discussion regarding location and other details, including the size and the total duration of the display, is still required, as is a formal council resolution acknowledging the agreement between the village and sponsoring committee. Mayor Paul Aronsohn said Wednesday that further action will be expedited to ensure the menorah is in place by the start of Hanukkah, which this year begins the eve of Thanksgiving.
Members of the Ridgewood Menorah Committee pitched the idea last month to include a menorah, one of the most notable symbols of the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah, though the idea has been circulated in the community for nearly two years. According to committee member Nicole Cohen, the group researched ways other municipalities introduced menorahs into their respective towns. Nearly 30 towns in Bergen County incorporate the religious nine-branched lamp stand with their holiday displays.
The committee’s proposal stated, in part, that a privately funded menorah should be placed on the northern side of Van Neste Park, where it would be visible from East Ridgewood Avenue. At the time, members suggested that a menorah would further demonstrate Ridgewood as an inclusive and diverse community.
On Wednesday, nearly two dozen residents turned out in support of the idea, including several religious leaders from various faiths and communities.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/223520701_Ridgewood_Council_endorses_downtown_menorah_display.html#sthash.cooYq1vB.dpuf
What about displays for other religions?
I would like to have a creche and celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Amen!
A creche would obviously be allowed given this decision. The Supreme Court has clearly said that you can display religious symbols on public property provided you allow all groups that want to display a symbol to do so.
As,long as all faiths have the right to display symbols of their beliefs, why not?
Personally, I would prefer none on public property but obviously if there are any then all have to be welcomed. And in this case there is a 50 foot spruce tree that no one wants to give up so I don’t see any other realistic course of action.
If you watched the meeting DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT PUCCIARELL AKA BIG AL THE DEVELOPERS FRIEND referred to these thing as “pagan symbols ” I guess his is the only true religion
The Christmas Tree is just a part of the celebration of a tradition that we have here in America. It is a lot of fun, unfortunately the secular tradition uses the name of a Christian event. Santa is not a part of the story of birth of Jesus.
The creche would be a religious celebration of Christmas. I am Catholic but I never like to see the two merged together.We should keep all the religious traditions of the season off public property. I enjoy the decorations at Mt Carmel. I do not want to see it placed next to the tree.
We need a Festivus pole for the rest of us! (Any word from Tracey, the unofficial witch of Ridgewood on what wiccan symbol may be used for the Winter solstice?)
the Ridgewood blog is looking into sponsoring the Festivus Celebrations again this year
How about a statue of Budda or Vishnu or what ever else there is? All this pc crap is nonsense.