The World’s Largest Chanukah Menorah will be erected at New York’s most fashionable plaza, Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, near Central Park, between the Plaza and the Pierre Hotels. The Menorah will be lighted on all evenings of Chanukah. The first candle of Chanukah is lit on Sunday, Dec. 21 and the last (eight) candles of Chanukah will be lit on Sunday evening, December 28th, at 5:30 pm.
“The lighting of the World’s largest Chanukah Menorah takes on a special meaning this year,” said Rabbi Shmuel M. Butman, Director of the Lubavitch Youth Organization, who will light the Menorah nightly together with special dignitaries “as the Menorah joins the ‘unite to light’ campaign in memory of the terror victims in Mumbai.”
“Unite to Light” is a grass roots Menorah lighting campaign of people around the world lighting the menorah and committing to a mitzvah or good deed. “The message of the Menorah is we are continuing in ever greater strength,” said Butman.
The Menorah, certified by the McGinnis Book of Records as the World’s Largest, was specially designed by world renowned artist Yaakov Agam. Yaakov Agam’s design was inspired by a hand drawing by the Rambam (Maimonides) of the original Menorah in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. The 32-foot high, gold colored, 4,000 pound steel structure will be lit nightly with genuine oil lamps. Specially designed glass chimneys will protect the Chanukah lights from the Central Park winds.
The Rebbe wanted the World’s Largest Chanukah Menorah to be in New York. When a group wanted to make a menorah in another city the Rebbe said they should make it smaller. The Menorah, in miniature, stood on the Rebbe’s desk. It was only after the Rebbe approved it that it was it made to present size.
Due to the height of the Menorah, it will be lit nightly with the help of a Con Edison “cherry-picker” crane that will lift the lighters to the “Menorah Heights.” The lighting of the World’s Largest Chanukah Menorah is always the central event of Chanukah for the millions of residents of New York and visitors to the Big Apple. It is also a favorite with the International media who put the World’s Largest Chanukah Menorah in the center of their “Chanukah story,” bringing the World’s Largest Menorah into the homes of hundreds of millions of people throughout the world.
On Sunday evening, December 28th, a special Chanukah celebration will take place at the World’s Largest Chanukah Menorah. The celebration will include live music, singing and dancing, “Chanukah Gelt” for the children and hot ‘Latkes’ (potato pancakes), the traditional food of Chanukah, will be distributed to everyone.
The schedule for the World’s Largest Chanukah Menorah is as follows:
Sunday, December 21: 5:30 p.m.
Monday, December 22: 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 23: 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 24: 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 25: 5:30 p.m.
Friday, December 26: 3:44 p.m.
Shabbos (Saturday) evening, December 27: 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 28: 5:30 p.m.
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near Central Park at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street
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