By COLlive reporter
Photos by Baruch Ezagui
A long chain of 300 cars sporting menorah on their roofs drove around the city of Philadelphia on Motzoei Shabbos in the annual “March of Lights.”
Organized by the local Chabad centers, the parade began at Benjamin Franklin Parkway and 22nd Street, driving to Independence National Park.
There, a tall Menorah stood proud and was lit by Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, Head Shliach of Philadelphia and Chairman of Agudas Chassidie Chabad International.
Standing across Liberty Bell, an iconic symbol of American independence, Rabbi Shemtov reminded participants that it was at this same location that the international phenomenon of pirsumei nisa began.
As documented in the book “The Rebbe’s Army,” Rabbi Shemtov is credited for erecting the very first public Chanukah menorah in the United States.
Back on Chanukah 1974, Rabbi Shemtov and a small group of yeshiva bochurim took a wooden menorah to the foot of the Liberty Bell, which was originally rung for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.
This practice, which started out as a folksy phenomenon generating legal controversy, has since become a part of the public holiday scene in thousands of cities across the globe, Wikipedia writes.
A black and white photo of that first lighting stood at the Philadelphia event this week. Chanukah donuts goodies were handed out to participants. Eli Marcus and Choni Milecki entertained.
I would have to agree, Shemtov might have taken the menorah out of his living room, or doorway, but Drizin certainly made it into the modern day public affair as we know it today! Check it out in San francisco, it is going strong. Also, there is a great story to why it is uncontested in such a liberal (ie separate church and state) town.
No doubt R’ Bentche and R’ Avrohom Mayahr are having a great fabrengen now in gan eden as they watch their children continue the legacy….
I say since Philadelphia and Rabbi Shemtov and staff, really knows how to do things right come next year and check out the event for yourself to celebrate 40 years!!!
SO:
Rabbi Shemtov get credit for breaking through and placing a menorah on public/government property and showing the way.
Rabbi Drizin get credit for expanding it and doing it in a big way.
We all benefit from the fact that shluchim take each other’s ideas, build on it and develop it regardless of who gets the credit, and together we all bring the world closer to moshiach.
Yup, Philly was first, 1974 vs 1975, although you can’t compare the size of the Menorah (and presumably the event) in Phlly with the one in S Fran. S Fran seems to be much bigger and more of a “public” event than what the Philly one looks like…
In any case, it seems to be a tie. Kudos to Rabbis Shemtov and Drizin!
http://brianwebster.com/BillGrahamMenorahWebsite/images-10-21-12/BillGrahamMenorahProject-History.pdf
Independence Mall is government property as well.
The one in San fran. was in 1975.
The one in Philly was in 1974.
Look at this link and you will see it says that the one in San Fran was in 1975 http://www.billgrahammenorah.org/
Also It was the Rabbi Golowinski from Miami who came up with the idea to light the one in Philly.
The 2 Golowinski brothers are in the photo with Rabbi Shemtov.
Looking good. A secret admirer.
was indeed the first!
#2 and #3 I am sorry to inform you but you are incorrect. The menorah went up in San Francisco in 1975 with Rabbi Drizen; Rabbi Shemtov was the FIRST in 1974.
“In the modern era, public menorah lighting dates back to 1974, when Rabbi Abraham Shemtov of Philadelphia’s Chabad-Lubavitch Center kindled a small menorah at the foot of the Liberty Bell at Independence Hall. The following year, in 1975, legendary rock prompter Bill Graham sponsored Chabad’s menorah in San Francisco”
Feel free to look it up 🙂
This debate keeps going on.
Which year was the menorah put up in San Francisco?
Was it on government property?
Let’s settle this for once and for all, what year was Rabbi Drizin’s Menorah erected publicly for the first time?
your 100% right!!!!
Union Square in San Francisco, by Rabbi Chaim Itche Drizin,
first one was san francisco, chaim itche drizen
Chabad of Philadelphia has so much to be proud of!!!! Great parade and party!