A nice story about Bernie and his Judaism (not to be confused with religion exactly)

[Bonobo]

I don't expect everyone to appreciate what it means to be Jewish but not religious, but this is a nice story. Please read if you're interested.

http://crownheights.info/general/522919/revealed-bernie-sanders-connection-with-the-rebbe/


1. Bernie Sanders’ Important and Principled Role in Popularizing Chanukah Observance

In a nutshell:

As mayor of Burlington, Vt., Bernie Sanders publicly inaugurated the Chabad-Lubavitch Public Menorah at Burlington’s City Hall.
Sanders recited the blessings and lit the Menorah’s candles at Burlington’s first-ever public Chanukah Menorah lighting.
Defying significant pressure from political peers, Sanders strongly supported the Chabad-Lubavitch Public Menorah and directed his administration to defend it in court.
The early and strong support from the Sanders administration played a significant role in the now widespread phenomenon of public Chanukah Menorah celebrations countrywide.
Background:

With its small Jewish population, Vermont is historically not used to much public Jewish expression. In December of 1982 the Burlington Free Press ran an opinion piece titled: Attempting to Celebrate Hanukkah Always Seems Difficult in Vermont.

In the winter of 1983 Rabbi Yitzchak and Zeesy Raskin were appointed as the new Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries to Vermont, to help support and strengthen Jewish awareness throughout the rural state. One of the first actions the newly-minted emissaries took (at the time the Raskins still did not have a home in Burlington and Rabbi Raskin was searching for an apartment for his young family), was to approach Mayor Sanders’ office and request permission to light a large 8-foot menorah on the steps of City Hall as part of the worldwide public mitzvah campaign spearheaded and inspired by theLubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory.

Rabbi Raskin then invited Mayor Sanders to light the menorah.

Sanders gladly accepted their invitation and on December 1, 1983, in front of a crowd of about 35 Jewish students from the University of Vermont, he came out to the steps of City Hall, donned a kippah, flawlessly read the blessings aloud, and lit two candles, corresponding to the second night of Chanukah.

Sanders’ historic inauguration of the City Hall menorah inspired an annual tradition, and in 1986 Rabbi Raskin sought permission to allow the menorah to be erected in City Hall Park during all eight days of Chanukah. He also asked for permission to replace his aging 8-footer with a new sixteen foot version.

[Hortensis]

1. My husband is "Jewish but not

religious," and I would not be comfortable with Christians erecting a monument to Jesus bleeding on the cross at our city hall every spring for Easter.

The practical difference, I suppose, is that that is a liberal town with a small nonproselytizing Jewish population being recognized with typical liberal openness; while ours is in the very conservative "Bible Belt" of an aggressively and righteously proselytising religion perennially engaged in battle for national domination.

In principle not so much difference, though, and I prefer not to muddy the issue. I'd have preferred one lighting, then moving the religious symbol off public property.

[Bonobo]

2. One difference is that Christians, in modern history, were never forced to hide their faith

for fear of harm.

[Hortensis]

3. Well, not American, true. We should acknowledge that some are

running, hiding, and dying in other parts of the world.

[Bonobo]

4. Yes, I can acknowledge that and still say confidently that Christians in most of the advanced world

have not been victimized in a way that would make a ceremony like this significant in the same way it is felt by such a tiny minority as Jews.

[Hortensis]

5. True. My point is that these ceremonies

can have very different, and potentially sinister, significances and consequences, depending. In Burlington, it did apparently add up to...nice. It should always be that nice.

[Bonobo]

6. It is important to be careful. I agree.

But tolerance is important too.

[longship]

7. A nice, positively framed post.

Here's the deal.

If Dems are going to win this thing we have to unite. That is the most essential characteristic of the current and upcoming campaign. If we do not do that, we lose. Period!

Thank you for a great post.