The Lubavitcher Rebbe
The Lubavitcher RebbeIsrael news photo

What has been officially certified as the world’s largest Chanukah menorah is currently standing at New York City’s Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, at the southeast corner of Central Park between the fashionable Plaza and Pierre hotels. The 32-foot high, gold colored, 4,000 pound steel menorah is promised to be lit on all nights of the Chanukah festival with genuine oil lamps, starting with the first candle lit last Friday afternoon by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Senator Charles Schumer.

The lighting is achieved with the help of a Con Edison “cherry-picker” crane that lift the special dignitaries to the top of the structure.

The menorah, certified by the Guiness Book of Records as the largest in the world, was sponsored by the Chabad-Lubavitch Youth Organization and was specially designed by world renowned artist Yaakov Agam. It was inspired by a hand drawing by Maimonides of the original Menorah that once stood in Jerusalem’s Holy Temple.

The menorah stands as a symbol of freedom and democracy, strength and inspiration, delivering a timely and poignant message to each person on an individual basis
The menorah stands as a symbol of freedom and democracy, strength and inspiration, delivering a timely and poignant message to each person on an individual basis,” said Rabbi Shmuel Butman, who lights the giant menorah each night together with the special guests.

Rabbi Butman has been assisted in promoting his giant menorah by two of New York’s most popular radio stations, WCBS and WINS, each of which carry a steady Chanukah call to millions of people to “come light the menorah.” The message of Rabbi Butman is for everyone to light the menorah in their own home. “It’s exciting, it’s triumphant. It’s many voices as one cheering light over darkness, joy over sorrow, freedom over oppression.”