Menorah Lights Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate

By COLlive staff

A large Menorah was lit to mark the first night of Chanukah in the heart of the German capital, at the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin’s most famous landmark and in which the Nazis once marched.

Since 2008, a Menorah has been lit at the location, one of 20 public Menorah lightings in Berlin, a symbol of the miracle of Chanukah and as a sign of a vibrant Jewish community in Germany.

Over 20,000 people watched the lighting of the 10-meter-high Menorah live on the evening of December 10. To be able to bring community members together on Chanukah despite the pandemic, Chabad Berlin came up with something very special: It simply brought Europe’s largest Menorah directly into homes via Facebook and YouTube.

This year’s event was dedicated to all the healthcare professionals and nurses who are in the front line fighting the pandemic. For this reason, Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn lit the first light together with Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, Rabbi of the Jewish Community of Berlin and Chairman of Chabad Berlin. Earlier, the torches were lit jointly by the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller, the Federal Leader of Alliance 90/the Greens, Robert Habeck and H.E. the Ambassador of Israel in Germany Jeremy Issacharoff.

“Hanukkah at the Brandenburg Gate is a symbol that light is stronger than darkness,” said Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, not doubting for a second that the event would be a complete success even without an on-site audience.

Coverage of Chanukah at Brandenburg Gate 2020 in national and international daily press, radio and TV shows that a vibrant Judaism in Germany is of great interest.

The Menorah was one of 10 that are being lit around the city of Berlin.

The festive ceremony was broadcast live on www.facebook.com/chabadberlin and live on COLlive.com.

VIDEO: Full Replay

VIDEO: The Menorah is inaugurated in advance of the lighting