War Over Largest Menorah in NY Ends With Truce

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New York’s War of the Menorahs has flared for years — with rabbis in Brooklyn and Manhattan each claiming during rival, public lighting ceremonies that theirs is the largest, most towering candelabra in the world, THE NEW YORK POST reports.

But in the spirit of Chanukah, a miraculous truce has been kindled, with both sides saying at the first night lighting ceremonies that size really doesn’t matter.

The truce, it bears saying, was nudged into place a bit by a Chabad-Lubavitch rabbinical court, which recently designated Manhattan’s 36-foot menorah at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, as the only one that can bear the title “World’s Largest Menorah.”

“The goal of the night is to spread the meaning of Hanukkah,” insisted Chabad Rabbi Moshe Hecht, 30, after joining Mayor de Blasio in lighting the now-demoted menorah (right), a still-impressive 33.5-footer gracing Park Slope’s Grand Army Plaza. Hecht has complied with the court’s ruling via a little creative editing — his candleabra is now less-specifically titled, “The Largest Menorah.” THE NEW YORK POST

Photos: Daniel William McKnight; Gabriella Bass


6 COMMENTS

  1. Halachically there is an inyan to demonstrate that Chanukah lights are strictly for mitsva and not for lightning. Hence the preference for lights to be put under 10 tfachim. A largest menorah is not a hidur; might be a matter of publicity for kiruv purposes.

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