Behind World’s Largest Menorah

By Moshe Ben Chaim, COL

As we store away our Menorahs until next Chanukah, we wanted to focus the emphasis on one the of the most unique public lightings — on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

There, as every year, proudly stands a gigantic Menorah, the largest in the world, according to Guinness World Records, that brings a phenomenal amount of publicizing of the miracle of Chanukah, as every day hundreds of thousands of people are exposed to it.

The Kfar Chabad magazine recently revealed interesting details about how this Menorah came about, in an interview with prominent officer of the Israel Defense Ministry and the Israel Foreign Ministry Yossi Ciechanover. His wife, Mrs. Atara Ciechanover, initiated the concept of this menorah.

The Chossid who took upon himself, at the time, the expenses of the Menorah and who actually organizes all the public lightings of the Menorah is Rabbi Shmuel Butman, the director of the Lubavitch Youth Organization.

It was difficult to reach Rabbi Butman during Chanukah as he was busy with daily arrangements for the public lighting with the participation of public figures and guests.

Now that Chanukah is over, we asked to speak to him and to hear about the “behind the scenes” story and it seems that many details were not yet revealed.

How did it all start?

In the 1970’s the Rebbe spoke about public Chanukah Menorahs to publicize the Miracle of Chanukah. “We wanted to do that in the best way that befits the Big City,” Rabbi Butman told us in the talks that we had with him this week.
“This is how in 5738 (1977) this Menorah was built. The size of the Menorah was 30 feet. We called the Menorah the “World’s Largest Menorah” and that is how it was recorded by the world media who covered extensively the lightings each day. World media used the Menorah as the symbol of Chanukah.”

Who designed the Menorah? Who built it? And what was the cost?

We used a classic design. It was not yet the custom to use the Rambam design. After considerable efforts we found, with G-d’s help, a company who specialized in designing and building objects of metal and steel.

The company wanted $5000 for the design and construction. Not a small sum in those days. I contacted a supporter, Mr. William Goldberg OBM, president of the Diamond Dealers Association. Mr. Goldberg was so excited with the idea that he personally came to our office and paid for the Menorah.

Although he is no longer with us, his wife comes to the Menorah each year and feels like a partner.

For 9 years, this Menorah captured the attention of the world media, due to the unprecedented Pirsumei Nisso publicizing of the miracle of Chanukah. Every year the media flocked to cover the Menorah. Even the New York Times, that isn’t always enthusiastic about Jewish matters, wrote about this Menorah.”

When was the famous Agam Menorah built?

In 5747, Yaacov Agam designed the Menorah. A model of the Menorah in miniature stood on the Rebbe’s desk for 3 days. The entire project was arranged by Mrs. Ciechanover.

According to the words of Yaacov Agam, the Rebbe wanted the Menorah to be built to the maximum height permitted by halacha, 20 Cubits, which is 32 feet. The price for constructing this Menorah was $25,000, paid by the Lubavitch Youth Organization.

And what exactly did you do with the first Menorah?

That Menorah, till this day illuminates the surroundings at “Park Circle,” the gateway to Crown Heights, Boro Park and Flatbush, where tens of thousands of vehicles pass by daily.”

Which directives were from the Rebbe concerning this Menorah?

Rabbi Mordechai Hodakov, the head of the Mazkirus (secretariat) of the Rebbe showed an interest in all the details. Who is lighting today etc. According to his directives we invited the then Mayor Abraham Beame to light.

I remember that Rabbi Hodakov very much wanted that United States Senator Jacob K. Javits should light the Menorah. Javits at the time was old and in poor health. It did not seem possible that he would come. But when Rabbi Hodakov said that he wants him to light, I went to work on it. With Rabbi Hodakov one never knew ‘where the directive comes from.’ Thank G-d it was with success. Senator Javits came got into the lift and lit the Menorah.

I once got a call from Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, the Rebbe’s secretary. It was the night that the eighth candle was lit. The Rebbe told him that night to call me and ask me to light the Menorah again the next morning. We do this till this very day.

These directives came straight from the Rebbe?

This is part of what it says ‘to what is beyond you don’t reach.’ I will give you a case in point. Rabbi Hodakov told me to invite Robert Abrams to light. He was at the time Bronx Boro President. I answered that I don’t know if there are enough open nights. Rabbi Chodakov just repeated what he said, that Robert Abrams should be invited. He was invited and he came.

A few years later Robert Abrams was elected as Attorney General of the State of New York. He came every year to light the Menorah. When an individual complained to the Rebbe about the separation of Church and State the Rebbe responded that how can there a problem of Church and State when the man in charge of that in the State of New York came himself to light the Menorah. One then understood that the suggestion of Rabbi Hodakov came ‘from above.'”

One cannot help but admire the spot that the Menorah was given…

Indeed. This is a case of S’yato Dishmayo, (heavenly intervention). Within the laws of nature, we had a good relationship with Mayor Abe Beame and he gave the order. The permit officially was issued by the Parks Department but the permission came from the Mayor’s office.”

Many stories have accompanied the Menorah. Can you share one of them with us?

Every New York Mayor lit the Menorah, including Ed Koch. Ed Koch was one invited to St. Louis as the Guest Speaker for the United Jewish Appeal. After his formal speech, a woman who was at the time the head of the opposition to the lightings of public Menorahs, asked him for his opinion. She was certain that he would oppose it. Ed Koch answered in his characteristic blunt manner: “In my city, we have the largest Menorah – and I myself lit it.” Supporters of the public lightings applauded at length and the Menorah went up.

In conclusion, Rabbi Butman, what is your message?

That the lights that all Jews and the Rebbe’s Shluchim light, the world over, should usher in the eternal light of the great redemption imminently.