UPDATE: Moncton City Council voted unanimously Monday to immediately display the menorah and nativity scene at City Hall.
You can view the updated story following council’s vote by clicking here.
The original story can be found below.
Moncton is facing growing backlash for not allowing the menorah to be set up outside City Hall this year.
The Moncton Jewish Community was informed of the city’s decision to end the 20-year tradition last week.
President Francis Weil said that it is unfair and profoundly hurts the city’s Jewish population.
“The reason that it’s so important for Jews to see the menorah at City Hall is because, for us, it’s a sign of being accepted,” said Weil.
“In a world where antisemitism has been too often present — and continues to grow — this acceptance is important.”
City staff cited a 2015 Supreme Court decision to ban religious prayers at municipal council meetings as the reason for no longer allowing the menorah, he said.
While the menorah will not be allowed outside City Hall, Weil said the Christmas tree and angels remain.
“The Jewish Community is happy that the tree and the angels remain, but so should the menorah,” he said.
In addition to banning the menorah, the city has also reportedly said no to having a nativity scene placed at City Hall.
Weil said they hope Moncton City Council, which is set to meet later on Monday, will reverse the city’s decision.
“The reaction is huge. There are thousands of people who wrote to City Hall,” he said.
Two councillors — Bryan Butler and Dave Steeves — took to social media over the weekend to speak out against the decision.
An online petition to reinstate the menorah had already garnered around 4,900 signatures as of early Monday morning.
Meanwhile, Canada’s oldest Jewish advocacy organization wants Moncton to reverse its decision banning the menorah outside City Hall.
In a letter to Mayor Dawn Arnold, B’nai Brith Canada said the move has painted the city and the province in a “not very positive way.”
“That is unfortunate as New Brunswick has been a leader in combatting antisemitism,” wrote Marvin Rotrand, national director of the League of Human Rights.
Rotrand also took aim in his letter at the city’s reasoning for banning the menorah outside City Hall.
“We are hard-pressed to find another community which has stretched the ruling to allow it to unilaterally cancel a long-established celebration of a Jewish holiday,” said Rotrand.
Rotrand said there is a historic Jewish community in Moncton that has contributed to the city’s wellbeing and success for generations.
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