Calgary Mayor To Skip Menorah Lighting As Organizers Rebrand it A Pro-War Event
On Wednesday evening, Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek announced that she would no longer be attending the 35th Annual Menorah Lighting at City Hall marking the beginning of Hanukkah celebrations, due to a move by the organizer, Chabad Alberta, to reposition this year’s celebration as a political event in support of Israel amid it’s brutal war in Gaza.
A poster for tonight’s event, which mentions Mayor Gondek’s originally planned attendance, received criticism for promoting a raffle for Israel war bonds, and the inclusion of the tags “Unity • Supporting Israel”.
In a video published by Independent Jewish Voices, a Canadian Jewish organization critical of the Israeli government, critics of the event had called on city officials to withdraw their involvement in the event, and called on the organizers to remove the pro-war messaging from their program.
“We appreciate that this annual event may be intended to represent the city’s investment in and commitment to Jewish communities, but the inclusion of war bonds and ‘support Israel’ messaging makes a dangerous conflation between Judaism & the government of Israel. This on its face makes it appear as though you are co-signing the fundraising efforts for the human rights abuses committed by the Israeli state, during a sacred holiday that celebrates freedom from oppression”
Explaining her decision in a statement posted to X, the mayor said “It has come to my attention late in the day that tomorrow’s community menorah lighting at City Hall – something I have looked forward to attending over the years – has been repositioned as an event to support Israel. When I was asked to speak weeks ago, it was to bring traditional greetings celebrating Hanukah and the spirit of Calgary’s Jewish community.
This last minute change goes against the original intention, and has left me feeling let down by leadership. I am saddened that this change makes it impossible for me to attend tomorrow’s event. And I am incredibly concerned that people wishing to celebrate Hanukah will have their good intentions compromised.
It is my responsibility as mayor to attend diverse and inclusive events with and for Calgarians from many faith-based and ethnic communities. My goal is to celebrate the strength of our common bonds and the power of pluralism in our city. However, when a celebration of community is turned into something with political intentions, it goes against the mission to uphold diversity and inclusion.
Further, in the many conversations I have had with Jewish and Muslim leaders, the outcome has been agreement to engage in an interfaith manner, to move forward in peace and prayer.
The changed nature of tomorrow’s event creates a divide and forces people to choose a side.”
