SWC Demands the Re-Instatement of Virginia Public Menorah Lighting

December 5, 2023

Human Rights NGO Calls Decision to Cancel an Act of Pure anti-Semitism

LOS ANGELES – The Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC) is demanding the re-instatement of next Sunday’s public Menorah lighting at the Second Sundays Art and Music Festival in Williamsburg, Virginia. The lighting was cancelled by LoveLight Placemaking claiming “it did not want to appear to choose sides in the Israel-Hamas conflict.”

The SWC released the following statement in response:

“SWC demands the re-instatement of next Sunday’s public Menorah lighting in Virginia. This is an act of pure anti-Semitism. No such decision was ever made to cancel celebrations of the Chinese New Year to protest horrific anti-Christian and anti-Muslim policies of Beijing. No one has ever suggested barring celebrations of Muslim faith events because of the terrorism unleashed in its name.

This despicable disrespecting of our faith during a time of raging anti-Semitism further endangers every member of the Jewish community. We hope that faith leaders will be joined by political leaders and fellow citizens to demand that the LIGHT of Chanukkah will pierce the darkness of hate.”

For further information contact the Center’s Communications department at pressinquiries@wiesenthal.com, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed. Media can also contact James Lambert, Vice President at Rubenstein Public Relations, at jlambert@rubensteinpr.com or at 1-212-805-3024.

About the Simon Wiesenthal Center  

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).

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