A public menorah is a large menorah displayed publicly during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. It is done to celebrate the holiday and publicize the miracle of Hanukkah, and is typically accompanied by a public event during one of the nights of Hanukkah attended by invited dignitaries who are honored with lighting the menorah.
Public menorah lighting were initiated by Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson in 1974. The most prominent public menorah celebration takes place in Washington DC, and is known as the National Menorah. In 2013 Chabad planned 15,000 public menorah lighting events across the globe.
History
The concept of lighting a menorah in a way that allows the public to see it dates back to ancient times, where menorahs were lit outside of people's homes in order to publicize the miracle of Hanukkah. The concept of lighting a large menorah in public was initiated by Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson (the Lubavitcher Rebbe) in 1973. He launched his Hanukkah-awareness campaign by encouraging his followers and emissaries to reach out to their fellow Jews and give them the opportunity to kindle the Hanukkah lights. That year they distributed some 60,000 tin menorahs. In 1974, Rabbi Abraham Shemtov kindled a menorah at the foot of the Liberty Bell at Independence Hall. The following year, in 1975, rock promoter Bill Graham sponsored Chabad's menorah in San Francisco. Since 1974, the concept of public menorahs expanded and in 1979, President Jimmy Carter participated in the lighting of a public menorah erected by Chabad. In 2014, then-Vice President Joe Biden kindled a public menorah in Washington, D.C.
In 2013, Chabad planned 15,000 public menorah lighting events across the globe. Some believe the Hanukkah-awareness campaign has been a prime factor in the festival becoming so widely celebrated. But the initiative has also faced opposition from within the Jewish community, both from Conservative and Reform Jewish organizations, as well as from the Orthodox Union and Agudath Israel.
Notable public menorah lightings
United States
Since 1979, the National Menorah has been lit on the White House grounds in celebration of Hanukkah. President Jimmy Carter attended that first ceremony, and President Ronald Reagan designated it the National Menorah. In 2009 the ceremony included then-White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, followed by Chief of Staff Jack Lew in 2010 and 2011. In 2012, the first candle was lit with the help of Jeffrey Zients, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget.
The world's largest menorah stands at and is lit at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street in Manhattan near Central Park. A structure, it is the work of Israeli artist Yaacov Agam. Because of the menorah's height, Con Edison assists the lighting by using a crane to lift each person to the top.
Canada
A large menorah is located at Toronto City Hall at the south east corner of Nathan Phillips Square during Hanukkah. as well as smaller one is also found at Old City Hall.
United Kingdom
Each year, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom holds a menorah lighting at the home of the Speaker of the House of Commons. The menorah currently used was commissioned by the Rt. Hon. Michael J. Martin MP, former Speaker of the House of Commons.
Since 2007, Chabad has organized a public menorah celebration at Trafalgar Square. Each year the event is sponsored by Chabad, the Jewish Leadership Council, the London Jewish Forum and the mayor of London.
Israel
Public menorahs are prominently displayed throughout Israel, notably in the Ben Gurion airport.
Cyprus
Each year the Cypriot capital of Nicosia has lit a National Menorah in its city center.
Ukraine
On December 23, 2019, was the first Hanukkah candle lighting in Ukraine parliament since the election of Jewish President Volodymyr Zelensky. Chief Rabbi of Kiev Rabbi Jonathan Markovitch led the event. Among the 200 guests were Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Joel Lion; Israeli honorary consul Oleg Vyshniakov; co-chairs of the group on inter-parliamentary relations with the State of Israel, Oleksandr Kunytskyi and Danylo Hetmantsev; and 80 members of parliament.
On 18 December 2022, 10 months into the Russian invasion, and days after the most recent targeting of Ukraine's gas infrastructure, the City of Kyiv lit what is claimed to be Europe's tallest Menora, (at 12-meters tall) in Maidan Nezalezhnosti square.