By COLlive reporter
A news conference was held Monday by city officials, lawmakers and Jewish leaders to condemn the desecration of a Chabad Menorah in New Haven, CT on Saturday during a pro-Palestinian demonstration.
Mayor Justin Elicker, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven CEO Gayle Slossberg, and other local faith and civil leaders stood alongside Rabbi Gershon Borenstein, Rosh Yeshiva of New Haven Mesivta, who organized the lighting of the Menorah on the first night of Chanukah.
At the press conference, Rabbi Borenstein said: “Positivity and light far outdoes negativity. I would venture to say there is not one person here today at this gathering that was here on Saturday when this story took place. So how do we know about it? One act, one video went viral.
“The message of Chanukah – what can one candle do? What can two candles do? Be a proud Menorah. Light your candle, light your Menorah…celebrate together. Do a Mitzvah… This one Mitzvah, one act of positivity can far outpace a negative act,” he said.
“We can hold strong beliefs but in New Haven we always treat each other with mutual respect, we must treat each other with mutual respect,” Elicker said.
In a statement posted Sunday, Yale University said, “The placement of a Palestinian flag on the menorah conveys a deeply antisemitic message to Jewish residents of New Haven, including members of the Yale community.”
“Yale’s regulations reach conduct occurring on or off campus that imperils the integrity and values of the University community, and if such conduct is committed by a member of the Yale community, we take action,” Yale’s statement read. “Yale has asked the New Haven police to investigate this incident and Yale may conduct its own investigation. Desecration of property such as a religious object is a crime under Connecticut law.”
VIDEO: Rabbi Gershon Borenstein speaks at the press conference
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the whole entire lighting by in New Haven from A to Z is the Shluchim of Mesivta
thank you Shluchim!!!
thank you to the deitsch family for the menorah