Virginia Hanukkah Celebration Cancelled Over Concerns of ‘Taking Sides’ in Israel-Hamas War

A menorah lighting in Williamsburg, Virginia was canceled after organizers reportedly said they feared the celebration could be too polarizing in the midst of the Israel-Hamas War.

The Hanukkah celebration, scheduled for Dec. 10, during the city's 2nd Sundays Art and Music Festival, had nothing to do with the conflict, according to a local Jewish organization.

But LoveLight Placemaking, the nonprofit that coordinates the monthly event, nonetheless said it didn't want to appear as though it was taking sides.

Festival founder Shirley Vermillion told the Daily Press in Newport News that board members have never approved religious ceremonies during its events out of a reluctance to show favor to any particular group.

She added that such a celebration "seemed very inappropriate" at a time of increased tensions following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

The United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula (UJCVP) condemned the decision to cancel the event, adding that the local rabbi who was scheduled to host it had no intention of discussing the war.

"We should be very clear: it is antisemitic to hold Jews collectively responsible for Israel’s policies and actions, and to require a political litmus test for Jews’ participation in community events that have nothing to do with Israel," the organization wrote in a statement.

"Those standards would never be applied to another community."

The group claims that LoveLight said it would reconsider hosting the event only if "it was done under a banner calling for a ceasefire."

UVCVP said Jewish people should not be held accountable for the actions of any government, especially because the Menorah ceremony was intentionally organized as an "apolitical" event.

Like many cities, Williamsburg's 2nd Sundays feature street performers, food vendors, craft sellers and other local attractions from March through December.

Scores of Facebook users left comments on LoveLight's recent posts conveying their anger about the decision to cancel the celebration.

The scheduled Menorah lighting would have fallen during Hanukkah, which begins on Dec. 7.