NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — New York City and Jewish people around the world celebrated the first night of Hanukkah on Thursday evening with the lighting of the world’s largest menorah in midtown Manhattan.
The menorah, located on Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, was lit at sundown with a small, socially distanced ceremony unlike years past.
Rabbi Motti Seligson, director of media at Chabad, says the symbolism of the menorah means more to many people this year.
“This menorah lighting is going on, as it would every year, but with an increased light this year, because we need that,” he said.
Organizers are hoping the 36-foot-tall menorah will offer a message of hope amid one of the darkest years in recent history.
“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.”
Lubavitch Youth Organization, which puts up the structure every year, says the bright LED lights will represent the victims of the pandemic and bring light into this world.
“This year people were encouraged not to come in person, but to watch it from home or if they're going by with their car or coming back from work, take a peek at it and remember what it stands for and remember that light,” Rabbi Seligson said.
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.
The menorah has previously been certified by the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest.
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
Stay informed, stay connected — follow WCBS 880 on Facebook and Twitter. Download the RADIO.COM app + favorite WCBS 880 for breaking news, traffic and weather alerts.