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Residents press Goodyear to relocate and better light menorah in Civic Square

City of Goodyear City Council (joint CFD meeting followed by City Council) · November 18, 2025

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Summary

Several residents and Jewish community leaders urged Goodyear to place the menorah beside the Christmas tree and illuminate it prominently; the city manager arranged a site visit for Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. to identify a new location and lighting options.

Multiple residents, synagogue representatives and volunteers addressed the council during public comment to request a more prominent placement and lighting for the city’s Hanukkah menorah. Hannah Zaklakovsky, who represents the city’s Jewish synagogue and community center, said a visible display affirms inclusion and cited the U.S. Supreme Court’s County of Allegheny v. ACLU decision as precedent for municipal holiday displays that communicate cultural meaning rather than religious endorsement.

Janet Kirschbaum and other speakers described the menorah’s placement as isolated and hard to find, urged it be placed beside the Christmas tree with appropriate lighting, and said the current display conveyed a message of unequal treatment. City staff and the manager acknowledged the concerns, said the menorah had been placed by an outside agency and that it was not in the best location, and arranged a meeting Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. at the stage to identify a better location and illumination strategy (including possible blue uplighting).