[Video and photos below.] The annual lighting ceremony of the National Menorah took place yesterday in front of the White House in Washington, DC, with thousands attending. As first reported by Matzav.com, Chazzan Itche Meir Helfgot performed, as did violinist Itzhak Perlman.
The annual world-famous lighting ceremony of the National Menorah on The Ellipse is sponsored by American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) through its National Menorah Council and is organized by Rabbi Levi Shemtov.
The menorah was lit by Jack Lew, the White House budget chief, who is the most senior Jewish official in the Obama administration.
The United States Navy Band with Jeff Nadel and the Three Cantors performed special Chanukah selections.
Click below to watch:
National Menorah – Washington, DC from COLlive.com on Vimeo.
See below for photos
{COLlive.com/Matzav.com/Photos by: Baruch Ezagui}
It is not the national menorah, they were not elected by American Jewry. It is a Lubavitcher menorah, that is it.
Thank you, comment #1 for pointing out what should be obvious, but is obfuscated by headlines and reports such as this one.
National, meaning “endorsed” by the American government. The fact that a goyishe government endorses a “ruchniusdike” concept of Yiddishkeit is no small endeavor and should be praised!
#3 – Where do you see that the American government endorsed it? Dream on…..
comment #1,so wehere exactly is the national Menorah that represents American Jewry?.