By COLlive reporter
Photos by Shimon Roumani and Chaim Perl
This year, crowds at the Menorah lightings were larger than ever, as thousands turned out to proudly celebrate light over darkness, freedom over oppression.
Millions saw, heard, and read about the World’s Largest, Menorah this year, as the Iconic Menorah was featured in print and digital media, TV, and radio across New York and around the world. The New York Times reported on the menorah in a refreshingly positive article.
The menorah lightings, which featured prominent dignitaries and lay-leaders, were covered by multiple leading TV and radio stations throughout Chanukah, including CBS, ABC, FOX 5, NY1, PIX 11, UPI, 1010 WINS, 880 WCBS and many others, including Israeli and international outlets.
Every aspect of the Menorah was covered, from its assembly—which was widely covered—to its parts, as multiple Ohio news outlets reported that the lamps of the World’s Largest Menorah were sourced from an Ohio business, a demonstration of the esteem in which the World’s Largest Menorah is held across the U.S.
The Menorah was lit each night of Chanukah (with the Friday lighting taking place at 3:45 p.m., well before Shabbos) and prominent dignitaries and lay-leaders joined Rabbi Shmuel M. Butman, director of Lubavitch Youth Organization, at the lightings.
This is all part of the campaign started by the Rebbe in 1973. The Menorah is certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest. It was specially designed by world renowned artist Yaacov Agam and inspired by a hand drawing by the Rambam of the original Menorah in the Beis Hamikdosh in Yerusholayim.
The 36-Foot, 4000-pound, gold-covered Menorah stands proudly at New York’s most fashionable Plaza, on Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, near Central Park, between the Plaza and the Pierre Hotels.
Uniquely, a model of the Menorah in miniature stood on the Rebbe’s desk, as the Rebbe personally approved the form of the Menorah before it was built. This year, Agam’s son Ron Agam lit the Shamash on the first night.
During the course of the Chanukah evenings, the throngs of participants were treated to two Chanukah Concerts by Eli Marcus and Yossi Cohen and to hot Chanukah latkes by Bension Kohen.
Over the years, the World’s Largest Menorah was lit by New York City Mayors Abraham Beame, Ed Koch, David Dinkins, Rudolph Giuliani, Michael Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio, Governors George Pataki and David Paterson, United States Senator Charles Schumer, as well as many other dignitaries.
Rabbi Butman thanked ChabadOne for all their great help. This year, Chabad Lubavitch lit over 15,000 public Chanukah menorahs all over the world. “May the lights of the Menorahs usher in the eternal lights of the great redemption,” said Rabbi Butman.
Let’s face it. Eli Marcus was the star of the night.
Amen! to Rabbi Butman’s ending statement of, ’May the lights of the Menorahs usher in the eternal lights of the great redemption’Now!