Anti-Israel protestors at Little Rock community Chanukah celebration

On Dec. 25, Lubavitch of Arkansas held its Chanukah celebration in Little Rock, despite protestors trying to shout down the proceedings. Mike Huckabee, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to Israel, lit the large menorah and gave remarks.

Huckabee is a passionate supporter of Israel, having been to the Jewish state over 100 times since his first trip in 1973, leading tours for thousands of Americans in that time.

The protest came from Taste of Olam Haba, a central Arkansas group “dedicated to dismantling colonial, imperial, and capitalist structures that are antithetical to a land-based Jewish practice,” and Little Rock Peace for Palestine, which seeks to “dismantle Zionism (and) all injustices.”

In November, the group issued a statement strongly opposing Huckabee’s nomination, saying his support of Israel is just “a means to hasten the return of a Jesus and a Christian supremacist narrative.” They vowed to use Chanukah as a time to “shine a light on Christian Zionism,” saying they “are not welcome in our Jewish communities.”

In their post about the event, the groups said “Christian philosemitism is antisemitism.”

Some wore sweatshirts with “Jews Say Cease Fire Now,” while there was a banner for “Jews and Christians Against Christian Zionism.” Many held square poles with lights on the top, using a bullhorn to chant slogans.

The Chabad headquarters in New York posted a brief video clip of the shouting during the menorah lighting, calling the event “light in the face of darkness,” with “the traditional tune of ‘Maoz Tzur’ drowning out antisemitic protesters.”

“This blatant antisemitism is unacceptable,” StopAntisemitism stated on X.