Stonnington Council defers Chanukiah decision

A motion to display the traditional Chanukiah at Melbourne’s Malvern Town Hall in support of the Jewish community in Stonnington was deferred at a Council meeting, to the dismay of Jewish attendees. Some angry attendees at the meeting called out ‘shame’ in response.

Many in the community have been concerned that the move means that Stonnington Council has effectively denied the Jewish community of its most public celebration of the festival in the City of Stonnington, calling the act antisemitic.

Stonnington includes a number of suburbs which are very popular with the Melbourne Jewish community, including Malvern, Toorak, South Yarra and Prahran.

Given the rise in antisemitism since the October 7 attacks, it is not surprising that the community is sensitive to what is perceived as the Council turning its back on its large Jewish community.

There is certainly no lack of Christmas decorations in Stonnington, and the Jewish community has no problems with Council-supported Christmas decorations and celebrations.

Stonnington councillor Tom Humphries moved the motion to install the Chanukiah at the town hall. The meeting was told there was no cost to the Council.

Fellow councillor and former Mayor, Steve Stefanopoulos, successfully moved to delay a decision on whether a menorah should be placed at Malvern Town Hall for the Chanukah festival.

Attendees in the gallery called out “shame, shame”.

Stefanopoulos claimed that Council did not have the “opportunity to discuss the matter”.

He said, “As an avid supporter of our Jewish community I don’t have a problem with this issue at all … my issue is because councillors have not had the opportunity to discuss the matter and seek advice from the officers.”

Humphries refuted that as “nonsensical” and “an affront to the Jewish community”. He said at the meeting that the move to defer the decision was “nothing short of antisemitic”. He was called on by the Mayor to withdraw his remarks.

David Southwick, Member for Caulfield called the decision “a disgrace” and “an appalling decision”.

One attendee said, “We’ve got Nazis marching in our streets, we’ve got anti-Semite stuff everywhere. It’s all about having candles lit for a very positive festival that doesn’t denigrate anybody.My tax rates have gone towards the nutcrackers in the street and the ‘Merry Christmas’ signs, and I don’t have an issue with that.”

Chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission Dr Dvir Abramovich condemned the deferment, saying, “What happened in Stonnington Council was a slap in the face to the Jewish community. A simple, fully funded menorah for Chanukah should have been an easy gesture of welcome. Instead, it collapsed into shouting, accusations, and a deferral that everyone in the room understood meant one thing: it won’t happen in time. This wasn’t about a Menorah – it was about a community asking, once again, whether they truly belong … Stonnington Council failed them.”

The motion has been deferred to a special council meeting that will be held no later than December 12, two days before Chanukkah begins.

Naomi Levin, CEO of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) told J-Wire, “For the local Jewish community, a public menorah is not only a religious symbol. A public menorah is a sign of welcome, respect, and belonging.”

She added: “At a time when Jewish communities in Victoria have felt increasingly vulnerable, small acts of recognition from leaders carry immense weight. The public presence of a menorah – visible, welcoming, and inclusive – would reassure the local Jewish community that they are seen, valued and supported.

This decision does not mean Chanukah is cancelled in Stonnington, though. Chabad Malvern has a number of public celebrations and candlelightings planned. We urge all community members to support these events and proudly celebrate Chanukah.”