The coolest Menorah was carved outside Chabad of Midtown’s center in New York City amidst Fifth Avenue’s winter wonderland.
Crowds stopped in their tracks to take in the sight of chainsaw-chiseling artists carving huge blocks of ice into a magnificent 14-foot ice menorah.
Delighted passersby were dusted with snow-like sprays from the holiday celebration – a spectacle enjoyed by thousands at the busy crossroads of Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street.
Local residents, business people, shoppers and tourists joined Rabbi Joshua and Brocha Chana Metzger in kindling the ice menorah as volunteers handed out latkes, donuts and dreidels to the crowd.
VIDEO: Ice Menorah carving on 5th Avenue
Chabad of Midtown Manhattan is situated on Fifth Avenue 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.
After the ice menorah lighting, the festivities continued at a reception inside the Chabad Center organized by Mendy Weisz and Yudel Rader.
Rabbi Asher Webb and members of The Midtown Kollel lit a large menorah every night in front of Chabad Midtown and distributed menorah kits.
As in years past, 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.
The center also serves as a ‘home away from home’ for Chabad Centers throughout the year. Chanukah events hosted this year included a Tulane University student reunion led by Rabbi Yochanan and Sara Rivkin from New Orleans, Louisiana. Chabad.org hosted a Chanukah party for journalists and media. A group from Israel led by Rabbi Sagi Har Shefer conducted a Chanukah Melava Malka. Student groups from Bais Rivka visited for mivtzoyim field trips over a few days.
Locals and international visitors from over 10 countries enjoyed delicious Shabbat Chanukah meals at the center. A large contingent of college students from FIT, Baruch, SUNY State and Stern College joined the Shabbat meals as well.
Reflective of Chanukah’s enduring message, this year’s freezing weather has kept the ice menorah intact through the eighth day of Chanukah and beyond.
BS”D Great to see Rabbi Metzger Sr. Till 120 in Good Health
Exquisite, Yasher Choach!!
To paraphrase the Rebbetzin about the refinement of France, The Rebbe plowed and sowed, and you reaped. Yasher koach.