12 thoughts on “The “Light Up Dunwoody” Controversy”

  1. 1. As of the past year or so, there was already a “to scale” lighted menorah in the farmhouse window during Hanukah; while the Christmas tree on the lawn was also “to scale” as a small outdoor tree. This seemed to more than satisfy my Jewish friends.

    2. Lenox Mall and Rockefeller Center do not light a menorah. Neither do thousands of other community holiday celebrations across the country. They light a Christmas tree. “Light Up Dunwoody” without a tree is just “dim”.

    Maybe the churches will be able to take up the slack and host a combined tree-lighting event…some year.

  2. If we are all supposed to get along and accept others beliefs, religions, and life style, why is it that traditional American values, beliefs, history are always under attach. These same people walk around saying we all need to accept one another…oh, except “this group” We should be adding to, not subtracting. ie: flags, history, Christmas Trees, etc. History is history, you can’t change it and hide it, that’s what makes it history. People move to the US because they like the way the country is run, but then once here want to change it…Embrace what is here and enhance it with your beliefs, etc.

  4. The event is still going to happen. It is just going to be somewhere else in the Village. It hasn’t always been at the Farmhouse, in fact for many years the tree was on the Vet’s property, I think. Also, the event itself was held in the parking lot at the Village.

  5. I don’t think the problem is that there isn’t a 6′ menorah on the lawn. To me, the issue was how DPT justified not having it. The quote from the DPT president in the original article justified it by basically saying the event and the tree were inclusively seasonal, but that really takes the Christmas out of Christmas tree, doesn’t it? In the Dunwoody community, there is a large enough Jewish population to support a huge community center, a K-8 private school, 3 synagogues and even a kosher senior community. If you really want it to be a community event, you have to do more than a tiny menorah in the upper window–which to me speaks volumes on how NOT inclusive they want it to be. As a Jewish person, I don’t really care if Light up Dunwoody stays a Christmas event. My kids still enjoy it. My issue was trying to say it is an inclusive holiday event by calling the tree a “holiday” tree. The media likes to blame the “liberals” and gentiles tend to blame Jews for the “war on Christmas” but really, this DPT president did a great job of it herself. There is certainly a happy medium between the afterthought menorah in a tiny window and a ginormous menorah on the lawn. What about a “right sized” menorah on the porch, or perhaps the Davis Academy choir singing some hanukkah songs along with the other singers? And there are ways to include Kwanzaa that I’m sure someone could step up and suggest. Bottom line is that Dunwoody is more than banks and churches and to suggest this event is a “holiday” event when planners don’t want it to be is disingenuous. Call it Christmas and be done with it, or step up and evolve this beautiful program to be a true community event worthy of our diverse community.

  6. I am Jewish- I respect Christmas, I have no problem with Christmas trees or telling everyone “Merry Christmas” and I don’t think that Christmas trees needs to be removed. As a matter of fact, I love Christmas and I know every song! I don’t understand the problem to include a Menorah since there is a large Jewish community in Dunwoody. It makes me sad that one AHA subscriber wrote “But, the farmhouse needs to stay a quintessential Christmas house.” To me that says that only Christian holidays matter and the Jewish holiday’s don’t. I know Christmas is important but why not recognize that another holiday is important also, given the large Jewish population. No one is attempting to take away Christmas or the celebration, why can’t we be more inclusive?

  7. I am really not sure I understand any of this…..the Christmas tree is not a religious symbol for a particular group. It is not a religious symbol at all. The Christmas tree evolved over the centuries from many different origins.
    The Solstice Evergreen: The evergreen has been a potent cultural symbol of rebirth from the dawn of history. Modern Christmas Trees are a vestige of the pagan practice of bringing evergreens into the home to symbolize life in the dead of winter. Trees have special significance to almost every culture, from prehistoric Japan to Central Africa, from Native Americans to Medieval Germans. The use of evergreen trees, wreaths and garlands to symbolize eternal life was a custom of the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. Tree worship was common among the pagan Europeans. The Scandinavian customs of decorating the house and barn with evergreens at the New Year to scare away the devil and of setting up a tree for the birds during the winter and Christmastime.
    The evergreen tree was an ancient symbol of life in the midst of winter. Romans decorated their houses with Evergreen branches during the New Year, and ancient inhabitants of northern Europe cut evergreen trees and planted them in boxes inside their houses in wintertime. Many early Christians were actually hostile towards such practices. I guess everyone thinks Santa Claus is a religious symbol too. I see no reason not to have the Christmas tree in the yard of the Farm House as it is not a religious symbol but the Menorah is in fact a very specific religious symbol. That is the reason the Christmas Tree is everywhere it is non denominational

  8. once again attack on Christianity and we are worried about being Politically correct. Put the tree in my yard and come celebrate CHRISTMAS

  9. Interesting. What a nutty showdown – the Christmas tree really has nothing to do with the birth of Christ, but the menorah does have everything to do with the Festival of Lights, symbolizing the miracle of the 8 nights of burning even though there was very little oil. The menorah is a symbol of the Jewish faith. The tree doesn’t really symbolize anything – except materialism, which is not the reason Jesus was born. I am not Jewish, but I have a lot of Jewish friends and have never, ever seen a lighted 6 foot menorah in their yard. But hey, if people want representation at Light Up Dunwoody, then they should definitely have it.

  10. Hi Audra, Hope you are great! OH wow – I knew nothing about this Light Up Dunwoody Controversy this is crazy!!! We want peace in the middle east we can’t figure it out in Dunwoody?! Davis Academy should host it and put up the tree  Very sad put it all up it is all so beautiful. Holidays are positive. I am shocked!! Thanks for keeping everyone up on the latest news I would have missed this one!

  11. Hey Audra- just giving my 2 cents’ worth, but I think it’s important to note: the media is only interested in creating drama. This drama isn’t good for anybody in Dunwoody. The DPT has graciously offered to continue the LUD event at the farmhouse, and the vet across the street has agreed to have the tree and menorah on his lawn, which is where the tree was up until 4 yr’s ago. It seems like the perfect solution. The tree and menorah can be part of LUD, and farmhouse can still serve as the beautifully lit backdrop. Hopefully, the DHA will be satisfied with this.

  12. We are used to being sensitive in public schools. Always having to be pc and call Christmas parties holiday parties.Not allowed to decorate or have gingerbread houses.Schools must be open and sensitive to all religions constantly

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