WEST MILFORD — The holidays are marked with all kinds of different traditions: the wreath on the door, the glow of plastic reindeer, the egg nog.
But, as in previous years, decisions about how to express the holiday season challenged some local governments looking to embrace the spirit of the holidays without endorsing a particular religion.
In West Milford, town officials voted 3-2 to nix plans for the lighting of a menorah in a public ceremony, opting instead to only offer a public lighting of a “holiday tree,” something the township has been doing for many years. They reversed that decision Wednesday in a 4-0 vote with one councilmember abstaining.
Whatever the council’s decision, there is no clear rule on what towns can or should include in holiday displays based on the ceremonies of surrounding governments.
Residents of the town of Newton will gather Monday with students from the public high school outside the municipal building to decorate a tree and sing songs.
In Lafayette Township, officials on Friday, Nov. 30 gathered for a public ceremony to light a tree and a menorah – exactly what the West Milford Council has now agreed to do. Wanaque has a public tree and menorah lighting, as does Ringwood and Morris Plains.
Explaining why she voted against the inclusion of a lighted menorah, West Milford Councilwoman Ada Erik argued last week that the lighting of a tree has been determined a seasonal symbol by the courts.
“The Supreme Court has said the lighting of a tree is not a religious event. For an outsider to come in and ask to put up a menorah and have a service, you’d have to allow all religious groups the same. It has to be equal. That’s why I voted no,” Erik said. Erik abstained in the most recent vote.
If what she said is true, then it may be that officials in Franklin haven’t gotten the message, because on Dec. 1 members of the Franklin Recreation Commission lit the township Christmas Tree, according to the town calendar.
Finding middle ground
In nearby Warwick, N.Y., a display including a tree and a menorah will be out for all to see.
In addition, the government will be supplying to the scene what may be its most overtly religious element — a nativity scene complete with a depiction of the baby Jesus that is owned by the village.
But there’s a catch.
Although the display will be located in Lewis Park, which is a stone’s throw from the village hall, that park is not owned by the public. Instead, the land is owned by the Warwick Historical Society, a private organization.
Moshe Schwartzberg, owner of Forever Jewelers in Warwick, constructed the display’s menorah nearly two decades ago.
He, his family and many others have gathered for the lighting of the menorah for the past 18 years.
“We give the kids handmade donuts and pass out potato latkes and chocolate money,” he said. “It’s good. It’s tradition.”
He also said that the private location of the event has prevented popular conflicts about the displays from getting out of control.
“I think they wanted to do away with any controversy for having it on municipal land,” he said.
Do you think Warwick’s way of handling the display is a good alternative? Go to westmilfordmessenger.com and tell us what you think.