CNN Doubles ‘Pirsumei Nissa’

By COLlive reporter

As if the millions who pass by Fifth Avenue were not enough, CNN has more than doubled the impact of the World’s Largest Menorah with reporting that “New Yorkers went big again, lighting a massive menorah outside the south side of Central Park.”

Reporter Chris Boyette wrote that the nine-branched candelabra is 32 feet tall, 28 feet wide, weighs 4,000 pounds, and is considered the world’s biggest, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Rabbi Shmuel Butman, Executive Director of Lubavitch Youth Organization, told CNN the gold-colored steel structure, designed by renowned Jewish artist Yaacov Agam, is equipped with oil lamps and has glass chimneys to protect the flames from wind.

The Associated Press, Reuters, Yahoo and other radio and television stations noted that this Menorah was first lit in 1977, then coinciding with the administration of Abraham David Beam, the first Jewish mayor of New York City.

THE REBBE WANTED

On Tuesday, a crowd of thousands gathered on Fifth Avenue and 59th Street cheered U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and Rabbi Butman as they were lifted in the Con Edison cherry picker.

“It is simple that the Rebbe wanted the World’s Largest Menorah to be in New York City because this is such a great and wonderful city,” Schumer said.

A miniature sample of the Menorah stood on the Rebbe’s desk in 770 Eastern Parkway after he approved its form – inspired after the Rambam‘s sketch of the Menorah in the Beis Hamikdash.

In greeting the crowd, Rabbi Butman thanked the Rebbe “for giving us the fire, for it is with his fire, and his fire only, that we light this Menorah and all Menorahs around the world.”

New Yorkers heard about the lighting on the airways with a special message being broadcast on the city’s most popular radio stations, WCBS and WINS.

The message of Rabbi Butman is for every one 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.”

“The prominence of the Menorah carries an additional message,” adds Rabbi Butman. “The Rebbe teaches that soon there will be another light, an eternal light, the eternal light of Moshiach, the eternal light of the Great Redemption.”

The World’s Largest Menorah will be lit every night in Manhattan. On Sunday evening, the ceremony will include live music, singing and dancing, Chanukah Gelt for the children and hot “Latkes” which will be distributed to everyone.