Village should add menorah to display

I would like to comment on the debate regarding the possibility of a menorah on Mundelein Village property. Please keep in mind that while the Hanukkah menorah does represent the Jewish people, it is not a religious symbol, per se. It is different from a standard Jewish menorah, which has seven candles. The Hanukkah menorah, or Chanukiah, has nine, representing not religion but a historical event that happened in the Old Testament - the foundation of the Christian religion as well as the Jewish.

Hanukkah is the only historical, not religious, holiday on the Jewish calendar.

It commemorates a documented victory over oppressors and the miracle that followed. While a crèche is strictly religious, the menorah is no different from the Christmas tree, which, while oddly deemed secular, is indeed a symbol of Christianity: Jews and Muslims and any of the other myriad religions do not have Christmas trees - the very name is indicative of Christianity.

Therefore, I implore the members of the Mundelein Village Board to seriously consider including a menorah in this holiday season's decorations. It is a beautiful symbol of freedom from tyranny and faith in God, not just for Jews, but anyone who battles a stronger foe and wins.

Joyce Becker Lee

Mundelein