December 10th marks the first official night of Chanukah, and New York is celebrating by being home to the largest menorah in the world (the Guinness Book of World Records even said so)!
As of Tuesday December 8th, a 36-ft menorah (the tallest in the world) was raised outside the east entrance of Central Park. Tonight (Dec. 10), the menorah will be lit by The Lubavitch Youth Organization during a socially-distant ceremony that will follow for the remaining nights of the holiday celebration. Weighing more than 4,000 pounds, this menorah isn’t just gigantic but very heavy!
Additional lights will trace the menorah to honor the “victims of the pandemic” said ABC7. “This year’s lighting will honor New Yorkers lost during the pandemic and spread a message of hope and healing,” said director of Lubavitch Youth Organization and Rabbi Shmuel Butman to anash.org.
In the mid-70s, Chabad Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson wanted to increase awareness surrounding the holiday so he encouraged the building of public menorahs. Thus, grew a competition between the Grand Army Plazas in both Brooklyn and New York battling over height to become the largest menorah in the world. The Manhattan menorah took the title.
Lighting Schedule for 2020:
Thursday, Dec. 10 – 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 11 – 3:30 p.m.
Saturday Dec. 12 – 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 13 – 5:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 14 – 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 15 – 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec 16 – 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 17 – 5:30 p.m.
Learn more about the holiday with The Lubavitch Youth Organization here!
Where: 5th Avenue and 59th Street in Midtown Manhattan
featured image source: Shutterstock