By BRANDON GARCIA | The New Mexican
December 30, 2005
Three religious leaders say recent vandalism to the Plaza menorah was an act of anti-Semitism, but Santa Fe is still safe for Jews.
About 100 people watched as the repaired Hanukkah display was relighted Thursday evening. The menorah's branches were bent and twisted, and the glass tops on its candelabrums were smashed Tuesday night.
"I don't think Jews need to be afraid in Santa Fe," said Rabbi Malka Drucker of HaMakom, a Jewish community. "We don't have people painting swastikas on lawns."
Drucker and the Rev. Richard Murphy of St. Bede's Episcopal Church agreed with Rabbi Berel Levertov of the Chabad Jewish Center of Santa Fe, who said the vandalism was anti-Semitic because no other religious displays in the same area were damaged.
Murphy said the incident proves there's a "presence of religious bigotry in the city," but he believes it's a small number of "hateful" people.
"I don't think Santa Fe is an anti-Semitic place," Levertov said. "The community has been very welcoming to us."
Anna Dolores, who attended the ceremony and stated she's nonreligious, said the vandal must be ashamed of his or her actions. "If he'd known he was right, he'd do it when people could see it," she said.
The eight-day holiday commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 165 B.C. After a military victory over Hellenist Syrian soldiers who had destroyed the Temple three years earlier, Jews were preparing a sacrifice to praise God for the victory. While they had only a tiny amount of oil for their menorah, it miraculously stayed lit for eight days. Hanukkah ends Monday.
A group of local businesspeople have funded a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of whoever damaged the display, Police Chief Beverly Lennen said.
It's possible the incident could lead to a criminal sentence enhancement if someone is convicted in Municipal Court and the vandalism is deemed a hate crime, Lennen said.
While Drucker, Levertov and Murphy said they don't think the vandalism is an indication Santa Fe residents hate Jews, all said they're worried anti-Semitism is rising worldwide.
Drucker said she believes that after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, people became frightened and some blamed Jews. "It's an existential fear that in my 60 years I never worried about until 9/11," she said.
Murphy agreed, but Levertov said while he believes anti-Semitism is increasing in Europe and the Middle East, he is unsure whether it's related to the Sept. 11 attacks. But, he said, "we've had anti-Semitism for thousands of years, and it's not going to sidetrack who we are."
Levertov promised the crowd an even bigger menorah next year, but Drucker said she would prefer no public religious memorials. "I'd rather get the Christmas tree down than put a menorah up next to it," she said.
Contact Brandon Garcia at 995-3826 or at bgarcia@sfnewmexican.com.
Comments
By Donado "Cove" Coviello (Submitted: 12/31/2005 9:34 am)
The 4 big signs around the menorah say "Happy Chanukah (from) The City of Santa Fe Parks and Recreation Department." The object of the vandalism was probably the local government not the Jewish community or the Christian community if it had been a "creche."
By atma wiseman (Submitted: 12/31/2005 8:22 am)
Where would fingers point if this had been a vandalized creche ?
By Charles Streeper (Submitted: 12/30/2005 3:04 pm)
Trisha isn't perfect but at least she doesn't draw conclusions and looks at religions objectively rather than taking an isolated incident and make assumptions about its intentions. Although, I don't think her assumption is correct that Boulder is more accepting of other religions than Santa Fe.
Vandalism is wrong period and yes, I'm glad they fixed the menorah so quickly as well.
By Kate Stone (Submitted: 12/30/2005 12:35 pm)
Trisha is perfect. A regular Sister Teresa. Om.
By Charles Streeper (Submitted: 12/30/2005 12:28 pm)
I think Trisha is right, as much as one might want to make this look like a anti-semitic act we don't know if it was just a young kid who saw some flimsy metal and glass on the plaza and decided to destroy it. The vandal may not even know what the symbolism of the object was and just did it for fun. That does not make the action right, but as long as we don't know who did it and why make assumptions? Had the vandal sprayed swatztikas, like is often seen on Jewish gravestones in Europe, it would be an easy call.
By Judy Yelsky (Submitted: 12/30/2005 12:03 pm)
WOW! so now because you visited a freakin museum you think you are able to "get it" By your comments it is apparent that that admission price you paid would have been better spent at pinks Hotdogs. hahahaha
By Andy Hopkins (Submitted: 12/30/2005 10:51 am)
I gotta say Kate, I like that idea better than mine about putting the guy in Netazrim. One question though: what if the perp was female???
And kudos to those who made this restoration happen so quickly. Happy Hanukkah!
By Trisha Matthews (Submitted: 12/30/2005 10:30 am)
Judy, having visited the Museum of Tolerance in L.A., it seems to me that I "get it" quite well, and far beyond to what the average American can attest. People go on the defensive very quickly when their faith is questioned or challenged. I strongly adhere to separation of Church and State, but I also think that there needs to be reasonable latitude. I hardly think a Christmas tree, crescent moon, or Chanukah menorah is reason for me to become defensive.
Cove, the State religion of ROB is acceptance.
Trisha in Boulder pahahahaha! :-)
...put THAT in your hat and smoke it!
By Kate Stone (Submitted: 12/30/2005 10:26 am)
Find the loser and bring him to a pissed off old moyel with a real bad tremor.
By Judy Yelsky (Submitted: 12/30/2005 9:43 am)
trisha: you dont get it do you?
By Judy Yelsky (Submitted: 12/30/2005 9:42 am)
oh yeah 5 large goes a long way when it comes to turning in a loser
By Donado "Cove" Coviello (Submitted: 12/30/2005 9:37 am)
I agree with Rabbi Drucker about the separation of Church and State.
Trisha, I don't know what the State religion of the white "Republic of Boulder" is but I can guarantee it isn't Islam. I bet there are no "cresent moons" put up on their holy days.
By Trisha Matthews (Submitted: 12/30/2005 8:46 am)
>>get the Christmas tree down<< ?? hahahahaha!!! I think you just need to get over yourself! Symbols of belief, whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim, pagan, or otherwise are personal expressions. We all just need to be more accepting of each other. ....and as far as vandalism on a menorah...what makes you think that it has anything to do with anti-Semitism? It could've just been an act of straight up vandalism. How quick we are to point a finger and say "I've been victimized" when it could equally be assumed that the act of vandalism would've have occurred regardless of the property. Yup. That's it....get over yourself.
trisha* in The Republic of Boulder :-)
By Ed Campbell (Submitted: 12/30/2005 8:21 am)
Let's hope someone who's acquainted with the thug who committed this hate crime -- will avail themselves of a nice New Year's present -- and turn their bigoted butt in for the reward.
By Karl Martell (Submitted: 12/30/2005 8:01 am)
Well-done, repairing it so quickly!
December 30, 2005
Three religious leaders say recent vandalism to the Plaza menorah was an act of anti-Semitism, but Santa Fe is still safe for Jews.
About 100 people watched as the repaired Hanukkah display was relighted Thursday evening. The menorah's branches were bent and twisted, and the glass tops on its candelabrums were smashed Tuesday night.
"I don't think Jews need to be afraid in Santa Fe," said Rabbi Malka Drucker of HaMakom, a Jewish community. "We don't have people painting swastikas on lawns."
Drucker and the Rev. Richard Murphy of St. Bede's Episcopal Church agreed with Rabbi Berel Levertov of the Chabad Jewish Center of Santa Fe, who said the vandalism was anti-Semitic because no other religious displays in the same area were damaged.
Murphy said the incident proves there's a "presence of religious bigotry in the city," but he believes it's a small number of "hateful" people.
"I don't think Santa Fe is an anti-Semitic place," Levertov said. "The community has been very welcoming to us."
Anna Dolores, who attended the ceremony and stated she's nonreligious, said the vandal must be ashamed of his or her actions. "If he'd known he was right, he'd do it when people could see it," she said.
The eight-day holiday commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 165 B.C. After a military victory over Hellenist Syrian soldiers who had destroyed the Temple three years earlier, Jews were preparing a sacrifice to praise God for the victory. While they had only a tiny amount of oil for their menorah, it miraculously stayed lit for eight days. Hanukkah ends Monday.
A group of local businesspeople have funded a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of whoever damaged the display, Police Chief Beverly Lennen said.
It's possible the incident could lead to a criminal sentence enhancement if someone is convicted in Municipal Court and the vandalism is deemed a hate crime, Lennen said.
While Drucker, Levertov and Murphy said they don't think the vandalism is an indication Santa Fe residents hate Jews, all said they're worried anti-Semitism is rising worldwide.
Drucker said she believes that after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, people became frightened and some blamed Jews. "It's an existential fear that in my 60 years I never worried about until 9/11," she said.
Murphy agreed, but Levertov said while he believes anti-Semitism is increasing in Europe and the Middle East, he is unsure whether it's related to the Sept. 11 attacks. But, he said, "we've had anti-Semitism for thousands of years, and it's not going to sidetrack who we are."
Levertov promised the crowd an even bigger menorah next year, but Drucker said she would prefer no public religious memorials. "I'd rather get the Christmas tree down than put a menorah up next to it," she said.
Contact Brandon Garcia at 995-3826 or at bgarcia@sfnewmexican.com.
Comments
By Donado "Cove" Coviello (Submitted: 12/31/2005 9:34 am)
The 4 big signs around the menorah say "Happy Chanukah (from) The City of Santa Fe Parks and Recreation Department." The object of the vandalism was probably the local government not the Jewish community or the Christian community if it had been a "creche."
By atma wiseman (Submitted: 12/31/2005 8:22 am)
Where would fingers point if this had been a vandalized creche ?
By Charles Streeper (Submitted: 12/30/2005 3:04 pm)
Trisha isn't perfect but at least she doesn't draw conclusions and looks at religions objectively rather than taking an isolated incident and make assumptions about its intentions. Although, I don't think her assumption is correct that Boulder is more accepting of other religions than Santa Fe.
Vandalism is wrong period and yes, I'm glad they fixed the menorah so quickly as well.
By Kate Stone (Submitted: 12/30/2005 12:35 pm)
Trisha is perfect. A regular Sister Teresa. Om.
By Charles Streeper (Submitted: 12/30/2005 12:28 pm)
I think Trisha is right, as much as one might want to make this look like a anti-semitic act we don't know if it was just a young kid who saw some flimsy metal and glass on the plaza and decided to destroy it. The vandal may not even know what the symbolism of the object was and just did it for fun. That does not make the action right, but as long as we don't know who did it and why make assumptions? Had the vandal sprayed swatztikas, like is often seen on Jewish gravestones in Europe, it would be an easy call.
By Judy Yelsky (Submitted: 12/30/2005 12:03 pm)
WOW! so now because you visited a freakin museum you think you are able to "get it" By your comments it is apparent that that admission price you paid would have been better spent at pinks Hotdogs. hahahaha
By Andy Hopkins (Submitted: 12/30/2005 10:51 am)
I gotta say Kate, I like that idea better than mine about putting the guy in Netazrim. One question though: what if the perp was female???
And kudos to those who made this restoration happen so quickly. Happy Hanukkah!
By Trisha Matthews (Submitted: 12/30/2005 10:30 am)
Judy, having visited the Museum of Tolerance in L.A., it seems to me that I "get it" quite well, and far beyond to what the average American can attest. People go on the defensive very quickly when their faith is questioned or challenged. I strongly adhere to separation of Church and State, but I also think that there needs to be reasonable latitude. I hardly think a Christmas tree, crescent moon, or Chanukah menorah is reason for me to become defensive.
Cove, the State religion of ROB is acceptance.
Trisha in Boulder pahahahaha! :-)
...put THAT in your hat and smoke it!
By Kate Stone (Submitted: 12/30/2005 10:26 am)
Find the loser and bring him to a pissed off old moyel with a real bad tremor.
By Judy Yelsky (Submitted: 12/30/2005 9:43 am)
trisha: you dont get it do you?
By Judy Yelsky (Submitted: 12/30/2005 9:42 am)
oh yeah 5 large goes a long way when it comes to turning in a loser
By Donado "Cove" Coviello (Submitted: 12/30/2005 9:37 am)
I agree with Rabbi Drucker about the separation of Church and State.
Trisha, I don't know what the State religion of the white "Republic of Boulder" is but I can guarantee it isn't Islam. I bet there are no "cresent moons" put up on their holy days.
By Trisha Matthews (Submitted: 12/30/2005 8:46 am)
>>get the Christmas tree down<< ?? hahahahaha!!! I think you just need to get over yourself! Symbols of belief, whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim, pagan, or otherwise are personal expressions. We all just need to be more accepting of each other. ....and as far as vandalism on a menorah...what makes you think that it has anything to do with anti-Semitism? It could've just been an act of straight up vandalism. How quick we are to point a finger and say "I've been victimized" when it could equally be assumed that the act of vandalism would've have occurred regardless of the property. Yup. That's it....get over yourself.
trisha* in The Republic of Boulder :-)
By Ed Campbell (Submitted: 12/30/2005 8:21 am)
Let's hope someone who's acquainted with the thug who committed this hate crime -- will avail themselves of a nice New Year's present -- and turn their bigoted butt in for the reward.
By Karl Martell (Submitted: 12/30/2005 8:01 am)
Well-done, repairing it so quickly!
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