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Uploaded: Friday, December 14, 2007, 4:42 PM
Menorah vandalized -- again
Lighted display knocked over for second year in a row
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by Daniel Debolt
Mountain View Voice Staff
| For the second year in a row, the eight-foot menorah placed in front of City Hall for the holidays has been vandalized.
The menorah was pushed over Sunday evening or early Monday, breaking light bulbs and bending the aluminum structure. A bucket of rocks had been added to the base to help prevent it from being pushed over this year, to no avail. Police detectives had no additional information by press time.
"I'm just a little bit surprised that two years in a row the same thing happens," said Rabbi Shmuel Volovick. "My personal feeling is that it's some kind of youthful indiscretion. It is classified as a hate crime but I haven't experienced any kind of anti-Semitism here since I arrived three and half years ago. But this has happened two years in a row so I'm having some doubts."
The $1,400 menorah belongs to the local synagogue, Chabad of Los Altos and Mountain View, which had it shipped from the East Coast.
A member of the synagogue repaired the menorah on Monday night, just like last year, Volovick said. The menorah lighting went ahead as scheduled Tuesday night.
"Our plan for next year is to have a larger menorah in its place to show intimidation doesn't really work," Volovick said.
Anyone with information on the incident can anonymously tip police at (650) 903-6344. Chabad is offering a $500 reward. See www.jewishlosaltos.com for more. Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by Leland L. Medearis, a resident of another community, on Dec 18, 2007 at 4:39 pm I was stunned {well...at least surprised and curious} that a Menorah was allowed to be on city property. Now you and I know that Hanukah, strictly speaking, is not a truly religious holiday and is not mentioned in the Tanak. The miracle of the "self replenishing" oil would be a result of divine action. So it could be exempt from the separation clause in the U.S. Constitution I think. But now consider the fact that many if most Christians perceive the whole thing as "Jewish Christmas" you can see why the resentment arises. Youthful indiscretion perhaps but that is the same ignorance that probably preceded every pogrom in History. I WOULD SUGGEST a community effort next year with carefully mixed groups of youths of all the local ethnic and religious pursuations build Menorahs and manger scenes and whatever else is desired to eliminate this "perceived favouritism." A few parents on hand at night couldn't be anything but a good thing. Now however, if one side or the other can't stand to see their children socializing with others, we havn't learned much from the past. Shalom, shalom. {And that is a word one seldom utters or hears in Northern Kansas.]
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Posted by Lets Get Real, a resident of another community, on Jan 9, 2008 at 1:41 pm Leland -
Why would you presume, without a shred of proof, that christians are responsible for this vandalism? The worst anti-Semitism I have ever seen is comming from the radical Muslims. They want us all wiped out -that is DEAD! And they make no bones about it. Why are we Jews SO in denial?
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Posted by Leland L. Medearis, a resident of another community, on Feb 22, 2008 at 10:03 pm Get Real, "We Jews" are not exactly in denial to my way of seeing it.We do however argue a lot. Forty or 50% of Israeli citizens think Muslims are just a bunch of nice guys who will love and respect you if you make nice with them. And then there are those like you who think there is an Islamic terrorist behind every rock waiting to kill us. Come to think of it, the Quiran does say even the rocks will move away and expose every hiding Jew so a Moslem can get a clear shot. Hey. You are right. They do want to kill all of us. Just for couriosity's sake, when you say "we Jews" are you including me? I just may be a scimitar toting Arab. I could be a Crypto-Coptic Egyptian or a Byzantine Catholic Palestinian. Actually, I am a Sephardic Jew of celebrated but unverified origin. Of late I've been looking into "The Guardians of the City."Thats Neturei Karta to you. And that proves we argue and I guess we are indeed in denial as you say. Shalom, Shalom.
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