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Religious
Freedom
New menorah in
Ann Arbor marks a
win for the Jewish
community.
Shelli Liebman Dorfman
Staff Writer
Ann Arbor .
fter vandals destroyed a 20-year-old menorah in -Ann Arbor
last Chanukah, members of several area Jewish communi-
ties turned their outrage into a constructive solution: the
creation of a brand new 15-foot replacement put in place'last week.
"The new menorah is much stronger than the one we had that was
damaged beyond repair, and it will be cemented into the ground:'
said Rabbi Alter Goldstein, associate director of the Ann Arbor
Chabad House where the new menorah stands. .
"Its construction is the result of efforts.by both the Ann Arbor and
Detroit Jewish communities," said Rabbi Goldstein, who also serves
as spiritual advisor for Chabad students at•University of Michigan.
"Many people donated their time'and energy and money to this after
hearing what had happened."
Ray-Cohen of AAple Fabricating and Conveyor in Detroit said, "I
was appalled and saddened to learn that such vandalism occurred in
Ann Arbor." Cohen, who built the menorah at his materials handling
supply company said the menorah is much bigger and stronger than
the previous one: The project was coordinated by Jimmy Gannes of
West Bloomfield with the electrical wiring done by Chabad House
member Dr. Steve Rohde of Ann Arbor.
The new menorah, which arrived at the Chabad House on Dec. 14,
will be a year-round landmark there, and its candles will correspond
with each night of Chanukah.
Saddened at the necessity of building the new menorah out of
heavy steel difficult to destroy, Rabbi Goldstein said, "I am concerned
about it happening again. But we have to think, the darker the world
is, the greater chance we have to make it light.
.
"The new menorah fits well with the story of Chanukah, which
shows our enemies trying to destroy the Temple and how Jews stood
up for religious freedom. The new menorah serves as a symbol of
religious freedom, too, sending a message of faith and determination
that the Jewish people can triumph against even the most over-
whelming odds."
A
❑
In front of the new Chabad House menorah are U-M sophomore Josh Kaplan of Illinois, Rabbi
Goldstein, Steve Rohde, U-M sophomore Robert Rutkoff of Illinois, Guenther Kellner of Ann
Arbor and U-M Law School student Ron Garber of Minnesota.
The 15-foot tall menorah is in place in front of the Chabad House.
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December 22 • 2005
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