Calgary Mayor Declines to Attend Menorah Ceremony Due to Event’s Support for Israel
Calgary’s mayor says she won’t attend the annual Menorah lighting ceremony this year because it has become a “politicized” event in support of Israel. The move follows another development in Moncton where the city backtracked from refusing to display the Menorah and nativity scene following backlash from the Jewish community. Mayor Jyoti Gondeck announced her decision not to attend the Calgary event in a social media post on Dec. 6.
“On the eve of a beloved Calgary tradition, the annual Menorah lighting at City Hall, I have learned that the event has been repositioned to be political. This breaks my heart,” Ms. Gondeck said. “It is with great regret and sadness that I will not be attending.”
She said, “It has come to my attention late in the day that tomorrow’s community Menorah lighting at City Hall—something I have looked forward to attending over the years—has been repositioned as an event to support Israel.”
Ms. Gondeck said the change made it “impossible” for her to attend the event because, as mayor, her role is to attend only “diverse and inclusive” events.
She added, “When a celebration of community is turned into something with political intentions, it goes against the mission to uphold diversity and inclusivity,” she said, adding that the change “creates a divide and forces people to choose a side.”
The mayor said it was possible to “condemn acts of violence and war” without choosing sides. She posted a promotional poster of the event, which said “Unity. Supporting Israel. Jewish Pride.”
Several MPs responded to the decision on social media, calling on the mayor to reconsider her decision.
Liberal MP for Mount Royal, Que. Anthony Housefather said the Jewish community needed her support.
Conservative MP for Thornhill, Ont., Melissa Lantsman, said the mayor showed “moral cowardice” in the decision.
According to Britannica, Hanukkah (Chanukah) marks the first Menorah lighting after the Jews reclaimed the temple from the Syrian king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Menorah lighting is central to the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah.
The mayor’s decision follows similar moves in other parts of North America.
On Dec. 1, the president of the Jewish community in Moncton, NB, said the city had informed him they would not be allowing the Menorah display this year.
Moncton’s mayor, Dawn Arnold, told The Epoch Times in an email that the city “acted too quickly.” The decision was reversed three days later, and the city said the Menorah and other religious symbols would be on display “immediately.”
A Menorah lighting ceremony was also cancelled in Williamsburg, Virginia, a decision that was criticized by several state leaders, including Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
The Calgary Menorah lighting ceremony is in its 35th year and was scheduled to take place on Dec. 7 in front of City Hall at 5:30 p.m.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
