Menorah becomes issue in Florida town

DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Dec. 9 (UPI) -- A Florida town's decision to put up a Christmas tree this year but no menorah has angered many residents.

Officials in Delray Beach say the major issue is whether the menorah, the nine-branched candelabrum associated with the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, is a religious symbol, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported. In the past, Delray Beach has put up menorahs on public property along with the Christmas tree.

David Harden, the city manager, said Delray Beach might have to open up its public spaces to all kinds of symbols if it allows religious ones, granting requests from groups like the Ku Klux Klan.

The Hanukkah menorah has one taller branch in the middle and eight smaller ones on the sides.

Ronald Platt, one of the sponsors of the Christmas tree, told officials at a meeting Tuesday he was shocked when he went to the tree lighting and saw no menorah.

"We shouldn't be concerned with what's politically correct or what keeps us out of litigation," Platt said. "I think we should be concerned with doing the right thing."