AP Covers Largest Menorah

By COLlive reporter
Photos: Shimon Roumani

Jews around the world ushered in the eight-day Hanukkah festival Saturday evening, lighting the first candles of ceremonial lamps that symbolize triumph over oppression, the Associated Press reported.

Not surprisingly, the celebrations mentioned by the world’s largest news agency were the visible ones organized by Chabad.

“In New York City, Jews celebrated the holiday’s start with the ceremonial lighting of a 32-foot-tall menorah at the edge of Central Park,” the newswire dispatched to its affiliates.

“Rabbi Shmuel Butman lit the giant structure that weighs about 4,000 pounds and has real oil lamps, protected from the wind by glass chimneys,” it said.

“It was a beautiful event,” Rabbi Butman, Director of Lubavitch Youth Organization, told AP writer Colleen Long. “A wonderful way to start the holiday.”

Despite the relatively late hour of 8:30pm on Motzoei Shabbos, a crowd of thousands watched as a cherry-picker lifted Rabbi Butman and Manhattan real estate mogul Tamir Sapir to light the World’s Largest Menorah.

The entire Plaza was full from all four sides. Lubavitch Youth’s Mitzvah Tanks were parked nearby handing out free Menorah kits to participants.

“This was Pirsumei Nissah in the grand form as the Rebbe encouraged for the miracle of Chanukah to be spread as much as possible,” commented Rabbi Butman.