DECEMBER 12 • 2019 | 15
Jews in the D
O
n Nov. 22, Lansing
Mayor Andy Schor
was successfully
able to light a 9-foot meno-
rah alongside the 61-foot
Christmas tree in front of
the Michigan State Capitol
during the Silver Bells in the
City event.
Later that night, the
menorah was taken down
and returned to City Hall,
where it will stay in the lobby
during the holiday season.
This is not the first time
the Capitol has been in
the spotlight regarding
the menorah. On Nov. 12,
Michigan State Sen. Jeremy
Moss proposed a resolution
to permanently keep the
menorah on the Capitol
lawn alongside the state’
s
Christmas tree.
Moss’
resolution was not
taken up by either chamber.
In response, Schor is advo-
cating for the menorah to
stand next to the Christmas
tree during the eight days of
Chanukah.
The obstacle Schor faces is
whether the Capitol grounds
is property of the city or
state. If it’
s state property,
then it’
s their decision to
make on what is displayed on
the lawn. If it’
s city property,
then Schor and the citizens
of Lansing have the right to
have a menorah displayed on
the lawn as long as they have
the correct permits.
“We’
re trying to do some
research right now,” Schor
said. “If the property is the
state’
s, then we won’
t put a
menorah up. However, it’
s
disappointing to see they
have chosen not to display
the menorah alongside the
Christmas tree.”
Rabbi Asher Lopatin, exec-
utive director of the JCRC/
AJC, agrees with Schor.
“There has to be some bal-
ance,” Lopatin said. “If there
is going to be a Christmas
tree up then we should be
able to show our support for
the Jewish community and
display a menorah during the
eight days of Chanukah.”
Schor is not advocating
for the state’
s Christmas tree
to come down — he just
wants to see everyone being
celebrated during the holiday
season.
“Lansing is a very inclusive
city,” Schor said. “Everyone
should be able to celebrate
their faith and beliefs equal-
ly.”
The Lansing communi-
ty has shown support for
Schor’
s office, thanking him
for taking up this issue. Even
people in the legislature have
expressed that what he is
fighting for is worthwhile.
“We already have a request
for a menorah to be put up
in that space for the eight
days of Chanukah,” Schor
said. “We have an appro-
priate permitting process
and if it turns out to be our
property, we are prepared to
go through this process to
ensure that the menorah is
on display.”
CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER
STATE OF MICHIGAN
HIGAN
The Battle Continues
Lansing mayor fi
ghts for a
permanent Capitol menorah.