National Menorah Lit in Washington, DC

The lighting ceremony of the National Menorah took place this year in Washington, DC. Despite the challenging weather, thousands turned out for a joyous celebration of the first night of Chanukah.

This event actually reaches over 50 million on over 1,000 national and local TV newscasts in all 50 US states and around the world, according to professional news monitoring services.

The “Pershing’s Own” US Army Band (led by Capt. Richard Vigglucci, USA) played special Chanukah selections, including a really warm welcome for Dreidelman, along with the Three Cantors – Jeff Nadel (Musical Director), Maestros Nissim Saal and Yossi Schwartz.

Ellie Brown (4th Grader at Beren Academy – Houston, TX) and Rose Nakash (6th Grader at Ramaz Middle School – New York, NY) read their winning entries in the Rabbi Mendy Deren Memorial National Menorah Essay Contest. They were presented with a special Merit Coins.

And two “Five Star Generals” – Esther Gittel Engel of Brooklyn, NY, and Sholom Ber Sossonko of Miami, FL, were officially recognized and given their caps by the youth corps of Tzivos Hashem.

Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, Executive Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad – the international Chabad-Lubavitch movement, and founder of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) as well as the National Menorah program, reminded everyone of the message of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of blessed memory, that “we are all part of one whole.”

Attorney General of the United States, Hon. Merrick Garland, represented and brought greetings on behalf of The President of the United States, Joe Biden, (who himself participated in this event in 2014) and Vice President Kamala Harris and the Administration. The Attorney General Chabad for organizing this event, and expressed his deep satisfaction at seeing this event occur in such a prestigious space especially in the face of antisemitism.

Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Executive Vice President of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) and organizer of the event, related how colleagues were presenting similar events across the US and in over 110 countries, bringing the joy and light of Chanukah to communities around the globe. He also addressed the issue of rising antisemitism. “The effective way to counter antisemitism is with a robust, informed and involved semitism,” Rabbi Levi Shemtov said.

He noted the management of the event by Rabbi Menachem and Racheli Shemtov, Rabbi Eli and Ettie Shemtov, who were assisted in the organization of the event by a team of bochurim from the Lubavitch Mesivta in Baltimore, MD. and Rabbi Yitzi and Shana Ceitlin skillfully oversaw the Rabbi Mendy Deren National Menorah Essay contest and coordinated the press coverage and logistical details.

Rabbis Abraham Shemtov and Levi Shemtov then proceeded to light the National Menorah, accompanied by prominent philanthropist Mr. Howard Tzvi Friedman.

Of course, thousands of hot latkes, donuts and free menorah kits and guides were distributed to the crowd after the lighting.

Organizers offered to send a free menorah kit, while supplies last, to anyone who requests one at info@nationalmenorah.org (Contributions to support the National Menorah can also be made at this site.)

Since the event, requests for menorahs and materials have come in from across the US.

This was part of a series of events and programs with over 2,000 participants in other Chanukah celebrations scheduled for the week at The US Capitol, “World of Light” at the International Monetary Fund, The Pentagon, malls, centers, DC neighborhoods including Dupont Circle, Spring Valley, Georgetown and the Capitol Hill community, The Wharf DC, Chanukah family fun day, as well as Chanukah programs for students at The George Washington, Georgetown, and American Universities prior to their departure for Winter Break.

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