NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — New York City and Jewish people around the world with mark the first night of Hanukkah Thursday evening.
To celebrate in the city, the world’s largest menorah will be lit in Manhattan at sundown, with a small, socially distanced ceremony.
The 36-foot tall menorah was put up on Fifth Avenue and 59th Street on Tuesday and organizers say this year’s nightly lightings will be different, but the message of hope will live on.
“For centuries, the light of the menorah has served as a symbol of the triumph of goodness and hope over darkness and hopelessness, even when the odds weren’t good,” said Rabbi Shmuel M. Butman, director of Lubavitch Youth Organization. “As the world reels from the devastating coronavirus pandemic, the eternal message of the menorah remains relevant and pertinent, perhaps more than ever in our life time: we will weather these stormy days, and inspired by our heroes and the lives of those we lost, we will come together to recover stronger as one.”
The menorah has previously been certified by the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest.
Lubavitch Youth Organization, which puts up the structure every year, says the bright LED lights will represent the victims of the pandemic and bring lights into this world.
The annual New York City menorah lighting tradition is part of the worldwide Hanukkah campaign, an initiative launched in 1973 by Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson.
“The campaign focuses on creating awareness and promoting the observances of the holiday, one of which is to publicize and make known the story of the Hanukkah miracle,” Lubavitch Youth Organization said in a statement.
Over the years, the world’s largest menorah was lit by New York City Mayors Ed Koch, David Dinkins, Rudolph Giuliani, Michael Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio; Govs. Mario Cuomo, George Pataki and David Paterson; U.S.
Senator Charles Schumer and many others.
According to a release, the menorah was designed by artist Yaacov Agam.
The menorah will be lit at the follow times:
Thursday, Dec. 10 at 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 11 at 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 12 at 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 13 at 5:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 14 at 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec 16 at 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 17 at 5:30 p.m
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