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Thursday, 27 Adar I, 5784
  |  March 7, 2024

A Nod to the First Public Menorah

A black and white photo at the public Menorah lighting in Philadelphia recognized the very first one that stood there in 1974. Full Story, Photos

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Agree #12
December 2, 2013 7:07 pm

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.

Oilam Haemes
December 2, 2013 4:58 pm

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….

Come see for yourself!!!!
December 2, 2013 1:08 pm

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!!!

Great job
December 2, 2013 12:35 pm

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.

GO BEZZ!
December 2, 2013 12:29 pm
Yup, Philly was first, although...
December 2, 2013 11:25 am

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

Government property
December 2, 2013 11:00 am

Independence Mall is government property as well.

To #2 and #3
December 2, 2013 10:12 am

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.

Bez...
December 2, 2013 1:53 am

Looking good. A secret admirer.

San Francisco
December 2, 2013 1:03 am

was indeed the first!

Philly was first in '74
December 2, 2013 12:48 am

#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 🙂

what year?
December 1, 2013 11:59 pm

This debate keeps going on.

Which year was the menorah put up in San Francisco?
Was it on government property?

San Francisco
December 1, 2013 10:32 pm

Let’s settle this for once and for all, what year was Rabbi Drizin’s Menorah erected publicly for the first time?

to #2
December 1, 2013 9:57 pm

your 100% right!!!!

Not Philly San Francisco
December 1, 2013 9:46 pm

Union Square in San Francisco, by Rabbi Chaim Itche Drizin,

first one was san francisco
December 1, 2013 8:54 pm

first one was san francisco, chaim itche drizen

Yay Philly!
December 1, 2013 7:41 pm

Chabad of Philadelphia has so much to be proud of!!!! Great parade and party!

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