The Hanukkah menorah in Wilton’s Town Center was damaged at some point last week in what police are considering a case of “criminal mischief”; however, Wilton’s Jewish community will gather with town officials to light the holiday lights in celebration as scheduled Monday evening, at 5:30 p.m.
Rabbi Levi Stone of the Schneerson Center, the organization that coordinates the menorah lighting each year, made some temporary repairs to the menorah shortly after getting the news on Saturday evening that it had been damaged. “I was very perturbed to learn that it had happened, especially after finishing Shabbat,” he said. (Shabbat is the Jewish sabbath, or day of rest.)
In a statement police made over the weekend, they said they are considering the damage as ‘criminal mischief’ and have documented the vandalism as part of an open investigation. One of the arms appeared to have been broken and two of the lights were damaged.
GOOD Morning Wilton has learned that the damage occurred sometime before Thursday. Several readers contacted us to say that they saw the damage early that day. Wilton Police are asking anyone with information to contact them at 203.834.6260.
David Abraham, president of Wilton’s Temple B’nai Chaim in Georgetown, said, “It is unfortunate that the menorah was damaged, whatever the reason, and we are all grateful it will be repaired in time for Monday night’s lighting.”
Rabbi Stone compared what happened to the menorah to the story of Hanukkah, which commemorates the miracle that happened during second century BCE, after the Jewish Maccabees reclaimed their temple that had been destroyed by the Assyrians. With enough oil to keep the synagogue’s eternal flame lit for only one night, the flame miraculously stayed lit for eight days until more oil could be procured.
“It’s the age-old message of Hanukkah, that the good will always prevail. That’s one of the reasons we put up the menorahs in so many CT towns, lighting up the world and spreading light, spreading the goodness of the people and of the community, and focusing on the positive. By lighting one candle you can push away the darkness. Here we see a little bit of darkness that happened in Wilton and [this] evening we’re going to light the candle and we’re going to push away the darkness.”
First Selectman Bill Brennan told GMW.com that he has been in touch with Wilton’s Police Chief Michael Lombardo and he also personally checked out the damage to the menorah. “We are increasing evening cruiser patrols in the Village Center to deter any acts of senseless vandalism to holiday decorations and seasonal displays by disrespectful and ignorant individuals. There is no place for this type of conduct in Wilton, especially during this joyful time of peace and good will.”
While the repairs Rabbi Stone made are only temporary, he’s hopeful the menorah will be able to be fully salvaged after the holiday is finished and he brings it back to the Schneerson Center in Westport. “I hope that it’s not permanently broken and that we don’t have to replace it,” he said.
He also wishes that whoever might have been responsible for the damage learns from the true meaning of the Hanukkah experience, saying he’s focused more on forgiveness than punishment. He’s also hoping the wider community will stand with those who celebrate Hanukkah as a show of support.
“To find the person that did it, maybe to bring that person to the menorah when we light it, to show them what we’re trying to accomplish. To try to educate them, rather than ‘catch’ them. We have to educate the community at large about what Hanukkah is and how we celebrate our holidays. I’m focusing on maybe getting more of our friends and neighbors to come to the menorah lighting to show solidarity, that these things shouldn’t happen again,” he said.
Wilton’s menorah lighting will take place at 5:30 p.m. on the Town Green in front of the gazebo, and is open to the community. For more information and to learn more about Hanukkah, visit the Schneerson Center website.