The world’s largest menorah, a New York City icon and one of the world’s premier public menorahs, was erected at its annual home, where many New Yorkers and visitors to the city will join the nightly lightings of the towering 36-foot menorah—certified by the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest—on Fifth Avenue and 59th Street at Grand Army Plaza near Central Park, right outside of the Plaza Hotel.
This year, on the first night, Mayor Eric Adams addressed the crowd, followed by Israel’s United Nations Ambassador Gilad Erdan who then recited the three Brachos on the first light of the menorah and lit the first candle. They were hosted by Rabbi Shmuel M. Butman, director of Lubavitch Youth Organization and joined by real estate developer Rotem Rosen.
Organized by the Lubavitch Youth Organization, the nightly events will feature a public menorah-lighting ceremony and live music with spirited Chassidic dancing. The menorah was designed in 1986 by world-renowned Israeli artist Yaacov Agam and inspired by a hand drawing by Maimonides of the original menorah in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem.
Over the years, the world’s largest menorah was lit by New York City Mayors Ed Koch, David Dinkins, Rudolph Giuliani, Michael Bloomberg, Bill de Blasio, Eric Adams; Govs. Mario Cuomo, George Pataki and David Paterson; U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and many other dignitaries.
PHOTOS VIA: YOSSI SOIBELMAN & MULI BERGER
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3 Responses
Nashim?
You’ll excuse me if I don’t find this so inspiring, uplifting, or celebrate-worthy.
The Gemara clearly states that when living among the gentiles “Manichah al shulchano ve’dayo” – place the Menorah on your table and that is enough. This is because the Mitzvah of Pirsumei Nisa is applicable to Jews only – there is no concept of publicizing the miracles among the gentiles. The only one who openly advocated making these public lighting events, was the Lubavicher Rebbe ZTZ”L. This is why all of these events, across the world, are spearheaded, sponsored, managed, and hosted by a local Chabad Rabbi. Inviting a list of Goyim to light the Menorah is anathema to proper keeping of Mitzvos – imagine inviting a local gentile official to Shul and “honoring” him with opening the Aron Kodesh or with making Kiddush…
“This is because the mitzvah of pirsumei nisa is applicable to Jews only – there is no concept of publicizing the miracles among the gentiles”
Wrong. The Gemara says “בשעת סכנה”. That is the reason why we light indoors.
Although Rav Eliyashiv, Rav Soloveitchik, and others hold that pirsumei nisa applies to goyim as well (as is inferred from Rashi in Shabbos), Reb Alex knows that we may only accept Reb Moshe Feinstein’s opinion…
Anyways, Reb Alex also forgets about the 1.5 million Jews living in New York, many of which have a much bigger chance knowing about Chanukah when it is promoted with the help of non-Jewish dignitaries.
“The only one who openly advocated making these public lighting events…”
I advise you to see this article (section “Recent poskim”):
https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/2038610/defense-of-controversial-public-menorah-lightings.html