Mayor Bloomberg Lights Menorah

Photos by Shimon Roumani

On Sunday, the fifth candle of Chanukah, a huge crowd estimated at between five and seven thousand people filled the “Menorah square” on all sides.

The atmosphere was electrifying, captivating and spectacular. The World’s Largest Menorah is serviced by three lifts, the Con Edison Cherry Picker and two elevating platforms that bring the lighters to the height of the candles.

From the “Menorah Heights,” Rabbi Shmuel Butman, Director of the Lubavitch Youth Organization welcomed the huge crowd and related the message of the Rebbe “to listen to the Chanukah candles.”

Rabbi Butman stressed that the message is clear. Yehuda the Maccabee and his brothers did not negotiate with the enemies, we also must not conduct negotiations with them and Hashem who performed miracles in those days will perform miracles for us in our days.” The crowd responded with thunderous applause.

The crowd was served hot Chanukah Latkes the traditional food of Chanukah. Donuts and Chanukag gelt were given out to the children and Fifth Avenue was transformed into a large Chanukah Celebration. ““I’m really proud ,” said a Jew from Williamsburg who brought his entire family, adding “What the Lubavitcher Rebbe could do no one can do .”

300 at Menorah Parade

On Monday evening a great Menorah Parade of over 300 (!) Menorah vehicles was organized by the “Mitzvah Tank Organization” with amazing professionalism. The Menorah Parade passed by the large Menorah on Fifth Avenue.

“To stand on the platform of the Menorah and to see the great convoy of over 300 Stations of Light stretching continuously from Sixth Avenue to Fifth Avenue for a long while, underlines the great thrust of the Rebbe who illuminated the world with the lights of Chanukah” said Rabbi Shmuel Butman, Chairman Mitzvah Tanks.

Throughout Chanukah the Tankists did a great job. They distributed Chanukah Menorahs, donuts and Chanukah gelt with courtesy and efficiency.

Mayor lights

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg lighted the Menorah on the Seventh night of Chanukah. He said proudly that in his twelve years as Mayor, he did not miss one year. The mayor stressed that Israel must stand on its rights with pride and not give up its security.

The Pirsumei Nisso of the World’s Largest Menorah is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of people as the Associated Press servicing over 6000 affiliates as well as scored of News agencies from the electronic as well as the print media, including The New York Times, ran a story on the Menorah.

Rabbi Butman continuously stressed the central message of the Rebbe that we are the last generation of exile and the first generation of redemption and these Chanukah candles will usher in the eternal light of the great redemption.”