Bernie Sanders, who is Jewish, supported Chabad public menorah lightings, according to documents released by Chabad.org.
The U.S. Senator and current democratic presidential candidate fought for the Chabad Lubavitch movement’s right to publicly display menorahs while serving as mayor of Burlington, Vermont from 1981-1989, according to the documents, titled, “Some more info on Bernie Sanders and Judaism.”
According to the post, Sanders interest in defending freedom of religious expression more so than a connection to Judaism is what led him to direct his mayoral administration to defend the pubic lightings in court against those who saw the lightings as an infringement of the separation between church and state.
His support for the lightings pitted him against groups that were otherwise allies of his such as the American Civil Liberties Union, the article states.
Additionally, he inaugurated the Chabad-Lubavitch public menorah at Burlington’s City Hall and recited blessings and lit the candles at the first-ever lighting in Burlington.
And he was an admirer of the rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, according to Richard Sugarman, who is quoted on Chabad.org.
His support for the lightings had far reaching consequences, the article states.
“The early and strong support from the Sanders administration played a significant role in the now widespread phenomenon of public Chanukah menorah celebrations countrywide,” according to Chabad.org.
FOR THE RECORD 2/16/2016: This story was amended to reflect that the information cited here comes from documents released by Chabad.org regarding Sanders, and that the candidate's admiration of the rebbe comes from Richard Sugarman, as quoted on Chabad.org.
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