National Menorah

Public menorah in Washington, D.C., US

Lighting of the National Menorah

U.S. National Menorah in 2023 with the Washington Monument in the background

Frequency| Annual
Location(s)| The Ellipse, Washington, D.C., U.S.
Years active| 1979-present
Website| NationalMenorah.org

The National Menorah is a large Hanukkah menorah located in the northeast quadrant of The Ellipse near the White House in Washington, D.C. It was first lit in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, and has been erected and lit every year since. The Menorah has grown in size as well, and is now 30 feet (9.1 m) high.

## History

[edit]

In 1973 Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson called for the public awareness of the festival of Hanukkah and encouraged the lighting of public menorahs.[1] Although initially criticized by liberal Jewish organizations, Schneerson defended the campaign.[2]

In 1979, Abraham Shemtov of Chabad sought to erect a menorah on the White House lawn. Cecil D. Andrus, the Secretary of the Interior, initially denied Shemtov a permit to put a menorah on government property, saying it would violate the First Amendment. Stuart E. Eizenstat eventually settled the matter and a permit was granted.[3]

That year, President Jimmy Carter lit the menorah and delivered brief remarks. Every president since has recognized Hanukkah with a special menorah-lighting.[4]

President Ronald Reagan is credited with naming it the National Menorah in a statement read during the menorah-lighting in Lafayette Park in 1982.[5]

As of 2013, the Menorah was 30 feet (9.1 m) high,[5] and rested on an elevated platform 2 feet (0.61 m) high. The height of the hanukiah and platform are regulated by rabbinical law, which requires the menorah to be both visible (minimum height off the ground) and of a maximum height (a person must look upward but not uncomfortably so).[6]

## Event

[edit]

The Menorah is erected each year by Abraham Shemtov and Levi Shemtov and sponsored by American Friends of Chabad-Lubavitch,[6] as part of the campaign initiated by Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson to raise awareness and hold public Hanukkah celebrations.

The National Menorah annual event is broadcast by C-SPAN each year. It includes a music presentation of festive Hanukkah songs by the United States Army Band. A U.S. ambassador or member of the cabinet has participated in the Menorah lighting each year. In 2004, all 50 U.S. governors issued proclamations in honor of the National Menorah.

Scholars have cited this initiative as a prime factor in Hanukkah becoming a widely celebrated festival.[7]

## Dignitary kindlers

[edit]

President Jimmy Carter (right) at first Hanukkah menorah lighting in 1979.

Every year since then, a member of the President's administration has participated and made formal remarks during the lighting ceremony.[8] Those who participated in the National Menorah event include:

* 1979: Jimmy Carter, President of the United States.
* 1994: Joe Lieberman, U.S. Senator from Connecticut[9]
* 1996: Stuart Eizenstat and Joe Lieberman[10]
* 1997: Stuart Eizenstat[11]
* 1998: Jack Lew[12]
* 2000: Stuart Eizenstat[13]
* 2006: Susan Schwab[14]
* 2007: Michael Mukasey, U.S. Attorney General[15]
* 2008: Joshua B. Bolten, White House Chief of Staff
* 2009: Rahm Emanuel, White House Chief of Staff[16]
* 2010: David Bernhardt, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
* 2011: Jack Lew, Director of the Office of Management and Budget[17]
* 2012: Jeffrey Zients, acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget
* 2013: Michael Froman, U.S. Trade Representative
* 2014: Joe Biden, U.S. Vice President[18]
* 2015: Denis McDonough, White House Chief of Staff
* 2016: Adam Szubin, acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence[19]
* 2017: Gary Cohn, White House chief economic adviser[20]
* 2018: Ryan Zinke, Interior Secretary [21]
* 2019: David Bernhardt, U.S. Interior Secretary[22]
* 2020: David Bernhardt, U.S. Interior Secretary[23]
* 2021: Joe Biden, President of the United States
* 2021: Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States
* 2021: Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States
* 2022: Merrick Garland, U.S. Attorney General
* 2023: Doug Emhoff, Second Gentleman of the United States
* 2024: Alejandro Mayorkas, Homeland Security Secretary

## See also

[edit]

* World's Largest Menorah

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "40 years since the first public menorah was lit in 1974". wkyc.com. 2014-12-16. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
2. ^ Feinberg, Lawrence (22 December 1984). "Jewish Groups Urge Menorah's Removal". The Washington Post.
3. ^ Cohen, Rebecca (December 7, 2012). "Rabbi lights the way for the National Menorah event at Hanukkah". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
4. ^ Sarna, Jonathan D. (December 2, 2009). "How Hanukkah Came to the White House". The Forward. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
5. ^ a b Park, MaryAlice (November 27, 2013). "It's Thanksgivukkah - The National Menorah Is Lit". ABC News. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
6. ^ a b Samuel, Stacey (December 10, 2012). "National Menorah lit in Washington". CNN. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
7. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-11-13. Retrieved 2014-11-12.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
8. ^ "From the Archives: Hanukkah at the White House". whitehouse.gov. 5 December 2013 – via National Archives.
9. ^ "National Hanukkah Menorah Lighting, Nov 28 1994 - Video - C-SPAN.org". C-SPAN.org.
10. ^ "National Hanukkah Menorah Lighting, Dec 6 1996 - Video - C-SPAN.org". C-SPAN.org.
11. ^ "National Menorah Lighting, Dec 23 1997 - Video - C-SPAN.org". C-SPAN.org.
12. ^ "Clip: National Menorah Lighting Ceremony". C-SPAN.org.
13. ^ "National Menorah Lighting, Dec 21 2000 - Video - C-SPAN.org". C-SPAN.org.
14. ^ "National Hanukkah Menorah Lighting, Dec 17 2006 - Video - C-SPAN.org". C-SPAN.org.
15. ^ "National Hanukkah Menorah Lighting, Dec 4 2007 - Video - C-SPAN.org". C-SPAN.org.
16. ^ Post, AP/ The Huffington (18 March 2010). "Rahm Emanuel Lights National Menorah At White House (PHOTOS)" – via Huff Post.
17. ^ "National Menorah Lighting, Dec 20 2011 - Video - C-SPAN.org". C-SPAN.org.
18. ^ "Biden at Hanukkah candle lighting: Jewish heritage is American heritage". 16 December 2014.
19. ^ "Rabbi rips into Obama at National Menorah Lighting". 26 December 2016.
20. ^ "Hanukkah Arrives in D.C. With National Menorah Lighting (photos) | The Georgetowner". 2017-12-13. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
21. ^ "Celebrating Hanukkah at National Menorah Lighting (photos) | The Georgetowner". 2018-12-03. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
22. ^ Richman, Jackson (2019-12-23). "Lighting of National Menorah marks 40 years of publicly observing Hanukkah in DC". JNS.org. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
23. ^ Richman, Jackson (2020-12-11). "Interior secretary Bernhardt helps light National Menorah for consecutive year". JNS.org. Retrieved 2024-12-31.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to U.S. National Menorah at Wikimedia Commons

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