What do Jews in Williamsburg, or anywhere outside of Israel, have to do with the Israeli conflict with Hamas? Nothing at all. This is straight-up, unvarnished anti-Semitism.
“WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — A Williamsburg nonprofit is under fire over what they say is a misunderstanding about a menorah lighting ceremony proposed for their upcoming festival.
Over the weekend, the United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula (UJCVP) released a statement claiming the nonprofit LoveLight Placemaking made a decision to cancel a scheduled menorah lighting at the group’s music and arts festival this coming Sunday.
The statement reads in part, “The Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula is shocked and alarmed at LoveLight Placemaking’s decision to cancel a menorah lighting scheduled for the Second Sundays Art and Music Festival on Dec. 10 in Williamsburg – claiming it did not want to appear to choose sides in the Israel-Hamas conflict. To be clear, the menorah lighting, which was to be led by a local community rabbi, had nothing to do with Israel or the conflict.”
However, the founder of the nonprofit, Shirley Vermillion, released a statement to 13News Now in response to the criticism, claiming the menorah lighting wasn’t cancelled. She said it was never actually scheduled as part of the festival’s events. Vermillion’s statement reads in part, “The menorah lighting was never officially scheduled at our December festival. It was being discussed, but the Fire Marshall or City Manager’s office had never approved the addition of a menorah lighting.”