World's Largest Menorah

The public lighting of Hanukkah menorahs began in the 1970s, encouraged by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who advocated for public displays of Jewish observance. In 1977, the Lubavitch Youth Organization erected the first public menorah in New York City at Grand Army Plaza, near Central Park. The inaugural lighting was attended by Senator Jacob K. Javits and Rabbi Shmuel Butman, director of the Lubavitch Youth Organization, who were lifted by a Con Edison cherry picker to light the menorah. Thousands attended the event, marking New York City's first public Hanukkah menorah lighting.^[1][2]

In the mid-1980s, Atara Ciechanover proposed redesigning the menorah to create a more visually impactful structure. She collaborated with Israeli artist Yaacov Agam, who designed the current menorah with a structure inspired by the Rambam's depiction of the menorah in the Holy Temple. The new design was first lit on December 26, 1986. In 2006, the menorah was officially recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest menorah in the world.^[3][4]

The menorah stands at 32 feet, the maximum height permitted by halakha for a kosher menorah. According to Jewish law, a menorah taller than this would not fulfill the mitzvah of publicizing the Hanukkah miracle because it would be too high to be seen and acknowledged by passersby.^[5]

The menorah is constructed from steel with a gold-colored finish. It features nine oil lamps—eight representing the nights of Hanukkah and a central shamash (helper light). Specially designed glass chimneys protect the flames from wind. Due to its height, Con Edison provides a crane to lift individuals for the lighting each night.^[3] In 2020, LED lights were added alongside the menorah's frame to honor New York City victims of the coronavirus pandemic.^[6]