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Thief steals 6-foot metal menorah from Florida family’s yard; rabbi counters

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — A missing menorah in a South Florida neighborhood may not have elicited the response the thief intended.

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A Hollywood family celebrating Hanukkah discovered their 6-foot metal menorah missing from their front yard on Saturday but by Monday it had been replaced by a 9-foot loaner menorah as a “message of resilience,” WPLG reported.

“Instead of feeling depressed or upset, we are going to spread it even more. We are going to light it and have the entire community come out,” Rabbi Eli Eckstein told the TV station.

The stolen menorah belonged to the rabbi’s father, Arthur Eckstein, WFOR-TV reported.

According to the TV station, Emerald Hills neighbors witnessed a man load the yard decoration into the bed of a white Ford F-150, claiming that if he didn’t take it, “someone else would.”

In the true spirit of Hanukkah, Rabbi Eckstein said lighting the menorah with family and neighbors will help dispel the darkness, WFOR-TV reported.

“We’re going to bring a bigger Menorah, we’re going to increase the light, bring more light into the world, more acts of kindness into the world and that’s how we’re going to get rid of the darkness,” Rabbi Eckstein said.