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.