Public Menorah Lighting

Public Menorah Lighting is the term for public menorah lightings that take place in central locations around the world. This initiative was started by the Rebbe's shluchim (emissaries) as part of Mivtza Chanukah (Chanukah Campaign). Through this lighting, one does not fulfill their personal mitzvah obligation, but it is done to publicize the miracle of Chanukah in the most expansive way to as many Jews as possible. Today, public menorahs have spread to every corner of the world, including prominent locations such as the White House, near the Eiffel Tower, and more.

The initiative previously faced fierce opposition from various Jewish groups in America, such as Reform Jews and similar groups, but after a prolonged legal battle, Chabad chassidim achieved a decisive victory with the Rebbe's encouragement.

History

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The first public menorahs in the United States were placed in Union Square in San Francisco, California, and lit by Rabbi Chaim Yitzchak Drizin in an impressive ceremony sponsored by the American corporate giant 'Levi's'. Public lightings also took place near the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia; in Manhattan, New York, where the largest menorah in the United States was placed; and in additional cities such as Albany, Chicago, and others.

A public lighting of special significance took place in 5740 (1979) at Lafayette Park, across from the White House. The President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, personally participated in the ceremony, and the event received extensive national media coverage. The lighting ceremony in front of the White House was repeated in subsequent years, with sometimes the President himself participating in the lighting, and at other times sending one of his Jewish aides to represent him at the menorah lighting.

The Rebbe's Instructions

The Rebbe referred on several occasions to the importance of public lightings, and instructed to conduct them "in the most public and central location". It should be emphasized that one does not fulfill their obligation through these public lightings, as each person needs to light in their own home. When non-Jews are present at these events, they should be encouraged to observe the Seven Noahide Laws.

Notable Public Menorahs

The Largest Menorah in the World

The largest public menorah in the world is set up and lit each year at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 59th Street on Manhattan Island in New York. The menorah is lit courtesy of Con Edison - the local electric company. Each night of Chanukah, public figures and first-tier business people are invited to light the menorah, with crowds of people watching the spectacle. The lighting ceremony is organized by the Chabad Youth Organization of the United States under the management of Rabbi Shmuel Menachem Mendel Butman.

The menorah was designed by artist Yaacov Agam, inspired by the illustration of the original menorah from the Holy Temple in Jerusalem according to the Rambam, and received the Rebbe's approval and encouragement. The menorah weighs almost two tons and stands nearly ten meters tall - the maximum height permitted according to halacha.

The Menorah at the White House

Biden at a central lighting at the foot of the White House 5775 (2014)

In 5739 (1978), a public menorah lighting ceremony was held for the first time in Lafayette Park, across from the White House in Washington, organized by Rabbi Avraham Shemtov. United States President Jimmy Carter participated in the ceremony. The Rebbe noted the event and its impact in his letter to Jews who opposed the public menorah in their city.

Since then, the event has been held annually with the participation of senior government officials, and the United States Army Orchestra plays Jewish songs. The highest-ranking official honored with lighting the menorah was Vice President Joe Biden in 5775 (2014).

The Menorah in Tel Aviv

In 5769 (2008), the Chabad Center in Tel Aviv, in partnership with the Foundation for the Promotion of Jewish Heritage in Tel Aviv and the Tel Aviv Municipality, erected a giant menorah standing about nine and a half meters tall in the heart of Rabin Square in Tel Aviv.

The Legal Battle Over Public Menorahs

The struggle began in the year 5742 (1982) in Teaneck, Bergen County, New Jersey, when the Jewish community tried to prevent the lighting of a public menorah in front of the county courthouse building. The Rebbe wrote a letter to the community committee noting the positive influence of public menorahs, an influence that even the American government recognized and viewed favorably. However, despite reading the letter, the Jewish community committee continued to oppose the lighting. The Rebbe sent them a letter stating that he was "confused and shocked" by their opposition, but ultimately they succeeded in preventing the menorah lighting in Teaneck. To bypass the opposition, the Shliach Rabbi Yisroel Brod lit fourteen menorahs in towns surrounding Teaneck.

After Chanukah, the community committee wrote a letter to the Rebbe detailing their reasons for opposing public menorahs. Among other things, they claimed that ostentatious displays of Judaism could lead to antisemitism. The Rebbe responded with a lengthy five-page letter, in which he replied in detail to their claims - he explained how harmful the opposition of Jews to matters of Judaism was, and the damage the community could cause to other Jewish communities. The Rebbe emphasized the importance of public menorahs, saying: "The experiment has proven that a menorah placed in a public location during the eight days of Chanukah served as a source of inspiration for many, many Jews and aroused within them a spirit of identification with their Jewish people and with the Jewish way of life... I personally know dozens of such Jews who returned, and I have good reason to believe that in recent years, hundreds and even thousands of Jews experienced the lighting of their inner Jewish spark thanks to the public lighting of a menorah in their cities, in the nation's capital, etc., as publicized in the media."

The struggle spread that same year to additional locations. The Rebbe's Shliach in Pittsburgh, Rabbi Yisroel Rosenfeld, who had received the city's permission to place a public menorah, faced opposition from an organization fighting for the separation of religion and state. In the district court, the Shliach lost the case, and the issue was elevated to the Supreme Court. Chabad was represented by attorney Nathan Lewin. Eventually, Lewin managed to convince the court with the argument that the menorah is not a religious display but a cultural one, and its placement does not contradict the law of separation of church and state.

Thanks to this victory, a menorah was placed in Pittsburgh for Chanukah 5743 (1982); but the following year, one of the lawyers who had opposed the menorah became the mayor and prevented its placement, arguing that the court ruling permitted the menorah's placement but did not obligate him to place it.

Another struggle began in Chanukah 5744 (1983) in Cincinnati, Ohio, when Rabbi Sholom Dov Ber Kalmanson requested to place a central menorah in the city and encountered fierce opposition from the Reform community, which is considered a Reform stronghold in the United States. Through the efforts of the Jewish Federation in his city, controlled by the Reform movement, the city informed him that he did not have a permit to place the menorah in the city square.

Rabbi Kalmanson decided to fight the city through legal means. In a conversation with attorney Nathan Lewin, Rabbi Kalmanson had a legal inspiration, and he suggested to the lawyer to take a completely different approach: to argue that lighting the menorah is a certain type of expression of opinion, and when a certain citizen wants to express his opinion by placing a menorah - the city is forbidden to restrict him and prevent him from expressing his opinion, as this would violate the law of "freedom of speech." The lawyer was shocked by the idea and was hesitant to use this argument, but eventually did so - and the opposing lawyers, who were sure his arguments would be based on the Supreme Court's decision regarding the separation of church and state, were surprised when Mr. Lewin began talking about "freedom of speech." They were afraid to be portrayed as not allowing freedom of speech. That year, Rabbi Kalmanson won and placed the menorah.

During the 1980s, the Rebbe's Shluchim achieved many victories in legal battles, with the Rebbe being involved in the details of the events. Over the years, public lightings became a consensus, and opposition waned.

In Cincinnati, a Reform stronghold, opponents continued to fight the public menorah year after year with various arguments. In 5764 (2003), Rabbi Kalmanson finally won, and the court permitted him to place the menorah every year, and his opponents were required to pay large sums. Since then, legal proceedings against the menorah have ceased.

Additionally, the legal battles reached the media and generated significant attention. This meant that in addition to publicity from the lightings themselves, the struggle contributed to publicizing the miracle of Chanukah on a much larger scale.

For Further Reading

• Vayilachem Milchamot Hashem (And He Shall Fight the Wars of Hashem), Kfar Chabad magazine supplement, Sukkot 5782/2021

External Links

• "Me'at Ohr Docheh Harbeh Choshech" (A Little Light Dispels Much Darkness), in Hitkashrut 542
• When the Rebbe told the Shliach: "I expected more from you" ● Watch
• Pirsumei Nisa on a Global Scale - Dozens of newspaper front pages in the United States showing Shluchim on the cover - on the website, 26 Kislev 5772/2011
• Fifth Avenue: The World's Largest Chanukiah on the website
• And They Lit Candles / The Struggle for Public Chanukiot - A Review - on the website, 23 Kislev 5767/2006
• Victory for Chabad House in Cincinnati, Ohio - on the website, 28 Kislev 5766/2005
• Why Was a Round Chanukiah Mounted on the Vehicle? - on the website, 3 Tevet 5775/2014
• Attorneys Who Recreated the Trial That Enabled the Placement of Public Chanukiot (English)