The borough’s tree lighting celebration drew criticism at this week’s borough council meeting when some said it was not inclusive of all holiday celebrations.
Board of Education President Meredith Fox-Wong said she was uncomfortable that the ceremony didn’t include a menorah, the candelabra used during the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah.
“I think it’s a disservice and it’s not inclusive. Does this open up a can of worms, maybe, but this town is about community,” Wong said.
“I thought it was a bit embarrassing,” Wong said. “I think we need to rethink that event for next year.”
The borough has a menorah but does not use it, Mayor Michael Nohilly said. It’s kept in a closet in borough hall, since the town was advised that displaying any religious decorations could lead to legal problems for the town.
“Two years ago, our previous attorney advised us not to do anything at all— no manger, no menorah, no nothing— to open us to any possible problems in the borough. We’ve had phone calls from both sides of it, but that’s how it was,” Nohilly said.
That’s why the tree lighting is not called a Christmas tree lighting, Nohilly said.
“We’re all intelligent human beings here, a tree is not a tree, it is a Christmas tree. It’s implied that it’s a Christmas tree, and we all know it’s a Christmas tree,” Wong said.
Councilwoman Lynn Parry said that Jersey City was sued twice by the ACLU [American Civil Liberties Union] for “Christmas issues,” and Ocean Township faced a similar case two years ago, Mayor Nohilly said.
“We should probably get rid of the tree altogether and just have a holiday get-together,” Mayor Nohilly said.
The tree lighting was held on Dec. 2 at Borough Hall.
