Crowds stopped in their tracks to take in the sight of chainsaw-chiseling artists working huge blocks of ice into a magnificent 14 foot ice menorah.
Delighted passersby were dusted with snow-like sprays from Chabad Midtown’s holiday celebration – a spectacle enjoyed by thousands at the busy crossroads of Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street.
Locals, business people, shoppers and tourists joined Rabbi Yehoshua and Brocha Chana Metzger in kindling the menorah while staff and volunteers handed out latkes, donuts and dreidels to the crowd.
Mr. George Rohr was honored with lighting the ice menorah. Brocha Metzger addressed the assemblage and thanked Mr. Rohr for his friendship and generous support of Chabad Midtown and Chabad worldwide.
Chabad of Midtown Manhattan is situated on Fifth and 42nd Street just a few short blocks from the United Nations, Grand Central Station and Times Square. Thousands flock by its flagship center every day.
Following the menorah lighting, the festivities continued at a special reception inside the Chabad Midtown Center.
Rabbi Asher Webb and members of The Midtown Kollel lit a large menorah every night in front of Chabad Midtown and distributed menorah kits to people passing by the center.
As in past years, public Menorahs were kindled by Chabad Midtown branches at local celebrations. Rabbi Shmuel and Raizy Metzger on Sutton Place, Rabbi Levi and Perel Shmotkin in Madison Square Park, Rabbi Noach and Dini Heber at Chabad of the Plaza District, Malka and Rabbi Yaakov Werde at Fashion Institute of Technology FIT, Rabbi Chaim and Shaina Dray on 47th Street in the diamond district – – all hosted public Chanukah lightings and events attended by large turnouts.
On Fifth Avenue – inundated with holiday hoopla and bright lights – the public Menorah serves as a beacon of Jewish pride in the heart of the city.
Bravo and Kol Hakovod Rabbi Yehoshua and Brocha Chana Metzger. Keep up the superb work.
May you go from strength to strength!