For the last 2,100 years, Jewish people have commemorated the eight days of Chanukah by lighting the menorah.
The “Festival of Lights” commemorates the unlikely victory of the militarily weak but spiritually strong Jewish people over the powerful Seleucid Empire at the beginning of the Maccabean Revolt in the second century BC.
The victory culminated in the recovery of Jerusalem and the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and the rekindling of its golden menorah. The Hebrew word Chanukah means “dedication”, and is named as such because of the rededication of the Holy Temple.
As the tradition goes, Jews found only a single cruse of olive oil to light the candle for one day, but it miraculously burned for eight days and nights.
Today, Jewish communities around the world continue to celebrate Chanukah both in individual ways, and also through the construction and lighting of large, public menorahs. It is estimated that there are 15,000 public menorahs across the world, from St Lucia, to New Zealand, to the United Arab Emirates.
Here is a small selection of some of the public menorahs from around the world.
Berlin, Germany
Menorah Brandenburg gate
Considered to be one of Europe’s largest, this menorah now stands in front of the Brandenburg gate, where once Hitler and the Nazis marched. It was lit on December 18 in front of city authorities and the Israeli ambassador (Credit: Cahad.org)
Watch history right now as a Menorah is lit at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. https://t.co/10jhBSRGX9 pic.twitter.com/W51PIXq8sr
— Rabbi Yisroel Bernath (@montrealrabbi) December 18, 2022
ABOVE: The Brandenburg Gate of the Nazi era and today
Olaf Scholz menorah
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz lights the first candle on a menorah to celebrate Chanukah with the Jewish community at the Heinz Galinski School in Berlin, December 19, 2022 (Credit: JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images)
Washington D.C., USA
Menorah capitol hill
In a tradition that was started by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, the National Menorah lighting ceremony took place on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. Attorney General Merrick Garland said: “As a descendant of those who fled persecution because they were Jewish, it is especially meaningful to be here tonight as you light this menorah in our nation's capital and under the protection of its laws.” (Credit: American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad))
Menorah Washington Commanders
American football team the Washington Commanders lit this football-inspired Menorah in their home stadium. Chabad said: “With eighty thousand fans watching from the stands and upwards of eighteen million tuning in from home, the prime-time game’s first public menorah lighting spreads Hanukkah’s light at a time when popular culture reels from antisemitism.” (Credit: Chabad.org)
New York City, USA
Menorah in New York City
A public menorah has been lit annually since 1977 in New York City’s Grand Army Plaza. This year’s 36-foot menorah, thought to be the largest in the world, was designed by Israeli artist Yaacov Agam (Credit: Chabad)
Minnesota, USA
Saint Paul Menorah
Public menorah in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA (Credit: Chabad)
Arizona, USA
Arizona Menorah
Public menorah lighting ceremony in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, USA (Credit: Chabad)
Vancouver, Canada
The -5° cold was brightened by the light of the menorah lit tonight at the Art Gallery. Cllr Kirby-Yung & I were proud to join Vancouver’s Jewish community at this commencement of Hanukkah celebrations.
— Mike Klassen 麥嘉信 (@MikeKlassen) December 19, 2022
Chag Hanukkah Sameach!#HappyHanukkah #Chanukka pic.twitter.com/y2CQCa4Rkj
London, UK, and Kyiv, Ukraine
Trafalgar Square Menorah
A large public menorah on display in Trafalgar Square, London (Credit: Chabad)
The Chanukiah is up in Trafalgar Square! 🎉🎉@MayorofLondon pic.twitter.com/g5OehBVLqU
— Jewish Leadership Council (@JLC_uk) December 16, 2022
This year’s menorah in Trafalgar Square has been twinned with the menorah in Kyiv’s Maidan Independence Square.
Kyiv Menorah
Ukrainian Jewish leaders say this menorah, constructed in Kyiv’s Maidan Independence Square, is Europe’s tallest. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko was joined by ambassadors from multiple countries for its lighting over the weekend. (Credit: Chabad)
Manchester, UK
We are extremely excited to be celebrating the first night of Hanukah in Central Manchester later today. It is a huge source of pride to our community that we get to light the Menorah next to iconic landmarks in our great City. pic.twitter.com/CRRC6HX5LW
— Jewish Representative Council of GM & Region (@JewishMCR) December 18, 2022
Chernivtsi, south-western Ukraine
Chernivtsi Ukraine menorah
Lighting of a tall menorah in the west Ukrainian city of Chernivtsi (Credit: Chabad)
Auckland, New Zealand
Auckland Menorah
Public menorah in Auckland, New Zealand (Credit: Chabad)
Sydney, Australia
Sydney Menorah
Public lighting of a menorah in Rushcutters Bay, Sydney, Australia (Credit: Chabad)
Newcastle, Australia
Australia Menorah
Public menorah in a park in Newcastle, Australia (Credit: Chabad)
Kigali City, Rwanda
Kigali City menorah
Public lighting ceremony of a menorah in Kigali City, Rwanda (Credit: Chabad)
