Hanukkah attacks on Jews are up sharply this year, after being down last year.
The worst attack is not the Muslim that bit off a Chabad rabbi’s finger during a menorah lighting. The worst is this methodical, matter-of-fact attack on a menorah in Moldova, led by an Orthodox Christian priest.
Side note about the headline: The AP managed to whitewash it with weasel words. “Officials say priest attacks menorah in Moldova”—the headline implies that the issue is in doubt. The video at the Ynet link proves otherwise. And please note that at the end of the procession, the priest placed a cross where the Menorah was standing. The message is crystal clear.
Christian anti-Semitism is alive and well in many parts of the world. A few days ago, the Jewish world rose up as one and condemned a vicious arson attack on a Palestinian mosque. Will the Orthodox Christian world rise up to condemn this anti-Semitic attack by one of their own?
In other news: Two menorah attacks on Long Island. Oops. Make that three.
One attack in Smolensk.
Three neo-Nazis (wearing masks, of course) brought Nazi flags to a Connecticut menorah lighting ceremony.
An attack in the Chicago area.
Santa Cruz says Chabad must have 24-hour guards on its menorah this year. They’ve been issuing the wrong permit all along, they say. Uh-huh.
Orange, CA, puts its menorah in a concrete foundation because last year’s was stolen.
Key Biscayne’s menorah was stolen.
No other fingers bitten off, though. Yet.
And because this is too depressing, here are far more cheerful links:
A Lego Menorah (video at the link)
An ice sculpture Menorah (light that puppy FAST!)
Another Lego Menorah? Or the same one?
And last, but not least, a DIY Star Trek menorah.
Chag Sameach, and don’t let the bastards get you down.
I am not an “Orthodox” Christian as per the normal use of that label, but I am a very conservative Christian and I am appalled by these incidents. Thank you for posting about them and insisting that Christians everywhere stand up and point out that these people are dumb, wrong and NOT acting in accordance with the tenets of our faith. Although I think it is currently Islam that is responsible for the majority of anti-semitism in the world that can sometimes overshadow the fact that there ARE still Christians (%^$^%$@!!!) who do this stuff.
God bless and have a happy Hanukkah
Happy Hannukah! May your Hannukah be a happier one that that shown above.
Those SOBs will have to work harder to kill our spirit.
Like Roger, I am a conservatice Christian and these attacks make me sick.
These people aren’t conservatives. Orthodox Christianity is a specific sect of Christianity. The Greek Orthodox patriarch in Israel is no friend to the Jews, either. His predecessor was removed for the crime of selling land to Jews.
I am not surprised to see this kind of overt, even proud anti-Semitism in eastern Europe. After all, there were many willing helpers of the Nazi regime throughout the continent.