Lakewood removes religious symbol

A menorah that was on display next to a decorated Christmas Tree in Lakewood's Townsquare has been removed after a resident complained to the Township Committee and threatened to sue the municipality. 

Township officials in the predominately Jewish community told the Asbury Park Press the Township has been putting up a small menorah for decades and that no one has ever complained until now.

The woman who threatened to sue the Township wanted to make the distinction that the menorah is a religious symbol and the tree isn't, according to officials.

Under the U.S. Constitution, the First Amendment prohibits the government from endorsing or promoting religion. Public holiday displays have been the subject of alleged violations of the First Amendment.

Guidelines distributed by the New Jersey League of Municipalities advise towns to make holiday displays to appeal to a wider range of religions and include a menorah, a Christmas tree, Kawanza symbols and figures of Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman.

Jersey City's holiday display was ruled unconstitutional in 1999, until it reconfigured its display to be more inclusive.