What is it about this quote from the story that you don't understand? Do you know what a direct quote is? A direct quote is, Mr. So-and-so said, "I gave them a deadline of two days before I bring in my pack of attack dog lawyers."
THAT is a direct quote. What you posted is, now discredited, hearsay.
It is discredited by whom? The rabbi and his lawyer? By Medved who is a friend of a friend of the rabbi? Please! Don't be so naive. Of course the rabbi is going into damage control and backpedaling furiously. So did Michael Richards and Mel Gibson. I think the original intent of the rabbi was clear - to take down the trees if he couldn't get a menorah put up as well.