The festival of Chanukah, a time of joy and light, has reached one of the most remote and extreme locations on Earth—the South Pole. Jake Dyer, a young man from the Chabad of Irvine community in California, is currently stationed in the South Pole and has the unique distinction of being the only person to celebrate Chanukah in this frigid and isolated environment.
Dyer is stationed at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station, a United States scientific research station located on the high plateau of Antarctica at 9,301 feet (2,835 m) above sea level.
Before Jake departed to the base in October, his local Shliach, Rabbi Elly Andrusier, encouraged him to take a Menorah along. The Rabbi explained that bringing the light of Chanukah to such a distant place aligns perfectly with the holiday’s theme of illuminating the darkness. Inspired by this idea, Jake packed a Menorah, ensuring that the spirit of the holiday would accompany him even in one of the most desolate places on Earth.
As Chanukah approached, a unique challenge arose—how to perform the mitzvah of lighting the Menorah in a location where the sun does not set during this time of year. To address this, Rabbi Elly Andrusier consulted with Rabbi Yossi Shusterman, a well-known Halachic authority. Together, they determined the best way for Jake to fulfill this mitzvah while adhering to Jewish law in the extraordinary conditions of the South Pole.
Jake’s Menorah brought light and warmth to one of the coldest corners of the world, proving that even a single light can dispel great darkness, no matter where one finds themselves.
I’ve heard some wonderful Chanukah menorah lighting stories over the years but this one hits it right out of the park!!!
Thank you Mr. Dyer for performing this mitzvah in farthest corner of the world! You have merited to do what Lubavitch Rabbis can only dream of doing!
Beautiful
There also was a menorah lighting in the North pole in Fairbanks Alaska for the first time ever by Chabad of Fairbanks
…that that one was at the actual North Pole (which is 1500 miles away from Fairbanks). It was probably at a nearby town of that name.