By Kevin Aldridge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Jewish leaders erected an 18-foot menorah on Fountain Square on Monday, raising questions about what other holiday displays would be allowed.

Volunteers with Chabad of Southern Ohio raise a menorah on Fountain Square Monday. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

Seventeen groups and individuals were denied permits this year because of the city's new law banning private holiday displays and events on the square.

It was unclear Monday whether those permits would be granted in light of Friday's U.S. Supreme Court decision blocking enforcement of the city ordinance.

City Solicitor Rita McNeil could not be reached for comment Monday.

The applicants were mostly churches, schools and other nonprofit organizations.

Rabbi Sholom B. Kalmanson watched proudly as workers raised the menorah Monday morning. U.S. District Judge Susan Dlott, who ordered the city to return to the practice of issuing a limited number of permits, also observed. She declined comment.

"This menorah has been up every year since 1986, and we were not going to miss it this year on a technicality," said Rabbi Kalmanson.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens on Friday overruled an appeals court order that had blocked Chabad of Southern Ohio from installing the menorah this year.

The Jewish organization sued the city of Cincinnati on the basis that the ban on private displays violated its First Amendment rights.

The judge's decision has now cleared the way for other groups to install their own displays.

Some fear that could include the Ku Klux Klan, which has periodically displayed its cross.

"I think their decision to put up the menorah is going to be harmful to Jewish/African-American relations," said boycott leader Nathaniel Livingston, who came downtown to speak with Rabbi Kalmanson. "I'm not against the menorah or the Jewish community, but just because you have a right to do something, that doesn't mean it's always a good idea to do it."

E-mail kaldridge@enquirer.com