A local rabbi said he is shocked after after a menorah outside the Bradford West Gwillimbury Courthouse was partially covered up with a garbage bag on the weekend.
“(It’s) pretty shocking… very disappointing. Disappointed is not the word. It’s much more than that,” said Rabbi Yosef Nakkar, of Jewish Bradford, who worked with the Town of BWG to install the illuminated menorah for Hanukkah, which ends today.
“Bradford is known to be a very warm town. Hopefully it’ll stay that way.”
South Simcoe police is investigating the incident, confirmed its corporate communications specialist Sue Sgambati.
The Town of BWG is urging anyone with information about who is responsible to come forward.
Nakkar said he noticed the menorah outside the courthouse, which is located at 57 Holland St. E., was unplugged on Dec. 6, so he plugged it back in. He found it unplugged again Dec. 7.
On the evening of Dec. 8, the menorah was again unplugged, the extension cord was rolled up, a cover that had been placed over the extension cord was tossed into the courthouse parking lot, and the menorah and a sign reading Happy Hanukkah were partially covered with a garbage bag, he said.
“That was rude,” he said. “Hanukkah teaches us to increase light, especially when there’s darkness. When there is darkness like this, we need to be strong and increase in light.”
In a Facebook post, the Town of BWG stated it reported the incident to police and removed a covering from the menorah.
“We also spoke with Rabbi Yosef … to convey our disappointment and concern over the event and reaffirm that the act does not reflect the Town’s values of inclusion.”
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact South Simcoe police at 905-775-3311.
