Chabad House of Greater Boston hosted its 31st annual Chanukah menorah lighting on the Boston Common opposite the Massachusetts State house with Massachusetts Governor-elect Mr. Charlie Baker along with his wife Lauren joined commencing the Chanukah festivities.
It has been a long standing tradition for Massachusetts dignitaries to attend the lightings annually. Boston’s Mayors Raymond Flynn, Thomas Menino and Marty Walsh, as well Governors Deval Patrick, and this year, Governor-Elect Mr. Baker attending the Menorah lightings.
The Boston Common Menorah was first erected in 1984 by Rabbi Chaim Prus Head Shalich to Eastern Massachusetts, in the central public park in downtown Boston, the oldest city park in the United States, dating back to 1634.
A large crowd of spectators enthusiastically welcomed the new governor, who was visibly moved when joining Rabbi Yosef Zaklos of Chabad of Downton Boston, Back Bay and Beacon Hill in lighting the towering 22-foot aluminum Menorah.
Following a cantorial rendition by Rabbi Shayke Lerner of Chabad of Brookline, the governor-elect shared his greetings noting that this is his first address to the Jewish community since being elected as Governor, and spoke of how honored, and duly inspired he was to take park of Boston Jewish celebration that has been ongoing for more than three decades.
Succeeding the Menorah lighting on the Common, Chabad of Downton Boston, Back Bay and Beacon Hill hosted an exclusive indoor Cocktail and Latke Bar Chanukah reception nearby at the prestigious Pucker gallery on Newbury St. , which it is touted as one of the most expensive streets in the world.
For the event, the Menorah kindled was the masterpiece Angels of Light Menorah, by the renowned artist David Aronson, who art has been represented in over forty public collections.
amazing work should you go from strengh to strengh
Kol hakavod to the Shluchim who aranged this!! Such a nice kiddush hashem
keep up the good work in downtown Boston
the real stuff
Rabbi Zaklos is doing a great job downtown.