In a show of solidarity with Birmingham’s Jewish community, leaders in Mountain Brook helped host the community’s first official menorah lighting ceremony on Friday.
The event comes on the heels a drastic increase in antisemitism throughout the United States.
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One of the organizers of the event, Rabbi Levi Weinbaum of Chabad of Alabama, discussed its significance with WBRC.
“We cannot be embarrassed of who we are, we have to stand up for what is true and what is right,” said Weinbaum. “We are here to stand strong, and hopefully just as we’re celebrating this story of Hanukkah, we’ll all celebrate a new story where we try and pull darkness, all evil, and bring goodness to the world.”
“We cannot forget who we are,” Weinbaum continued. “We’re a nation who smiles, who are happy, and we believe in victory. And we believe that the truth is what prevails at the end of the day and we stand strong with that.”
Mountain Brook holds first official Menorah lighting ceremony. https://t.co/ktDabXVoEj
— WBRC 6 News (@WBRCnews) December 8, 2023
There are also other menorah lighting ceremonies taking place throughout Birmingham. Event details are listed below:
- Homewood Menorah Lighting- December 11 at 5 PM in front of Trak Shak
- Birmingham Menorah Lighting-December 12 at 4 PM at Birmingham City Hall
- Hoover Menorah Lighting- December 13 at 5 PM at Hoover Public Library
- Vestavia Menorah Lighting- December 14 at 5:30 PM at Vestavia City Hall
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
