Jewish law states that the light of the Chanukah menorah (chanukiya) is to be enjoyed by looking at it but not using it. But what about a menorah made out of salami or chocolate? Look at it, but please don't eat.
A Chabad delicatessen in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida is lighting a 15-foot high menorah Sunday evening. "Head to toe, salami baby!" said Rabbi Shlomo Ezagui of Chabad of Palm Beach. "It's going to be an unbelievable sight to see."
The salami is wrapped around a thin metal frame, topped with lettuce and bread, and free food -- but not the menorah -- will be available for guests.
On the West Coast of the United States, South Bay Chabad is to light a six-foot tall menorah coated with melted chocolate chips -- kosher, of course -- in front of the Palo Alto city hall.
Not to be outdone, the Sunnyvale, New Jersey Chabad center built a seven-foot menorah out of canned food, which will be donated to the needy after the end of the eight-day Festival of Lights.
"With the economy the way it is, we can use the menorah to promote giving," said Rabbi Yisrael Hecht. "I thought the concept of light illuminating darkness was a pretty powerful symbol this year."
The menorah symbolizes one of the two miracles of Chanukah, when a tiny band of faithful Jews successfully rebelled against the imposition of Greek culture on Jews by Greek rulers. The victorious Jews also were able to find enough pure olive oil in the defiled Holy Temple to light the menorah for one night. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight full days.
In Israel, Sderot residents built a menorah out of -- what else? -- Kassam rockets.