It is kindled for 43rd year in outdoor ceremony on White House Ellipse
In what many scholars have credited for bringing the message of Chanukah into mainstream American public consciousness, the annual lighting of the National Menorah in Washington, D.C., took place for the 43d year on the first night of Chanukah.
“The Ellipse,” just south of the White House, is a well-known landmark to D.C. residents, where government officials and staff host many prominent events throughout the year. The lighting of a 30-foot menorah in the presence of dignitaries, leading politicians and typically with a full roster of entertainment is perhaps one of this national historic site’s most celebrated annual events, organized by American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) under the leadership of Rabbi Levi Shemtov.
Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, Executive Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, the umbrella group of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, and founder of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) as well as the National Menorah program, addressed the crowd, reminding everyone of the message of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, that “we are all part of one whole.” The rabbi noted how the National Menorah is only one small example of the Rebbe’s ongoing influence on the world, and how the work of the Jewish people everywhere is to bring the light of the Torah into the public sphere, not just during Chanukah, but throughout the year.
Chava Moscowitz, a third grade student at Cheder Lubavitch in Chicago, and Maya Benshimol, a fifth grader at New York Hebrew school read their winning entries in the Rabbi Mendy Deren national menorah essay contest. They were presented with a merit coin by the Chaplain of the Military District of Washington, D.C., Capt. Mendy Stern.
And for the second time, two “Five Star Generals” – Chaya Mushka Labkowksy of Baltimore, and Moshe Davidson, of Los Angeles, were recognized by the youth corps of Tzivos Hashem.
Second Gentleman of the United States, Douglas Emhoff, represented and brought greetings on behalf of President Joe Biden, who participated in this event in 2014, and Vice President Kamala Harris and the administration. Emhoff thanked Chabad for organizing this event, congratulated the winners of the essay contest, and expressed his deep satisfaction at seeing this event occur in such a prestigious space especially in the face of antisemitism. “We must shine a light on hate” he said, to the delight of some of the leaders of Shine A Light, a new coalition spanning the Jewish community, formed to counter antisemitism.
A novel component of the program was the meeting, for the first time, between a bone marrow donor and the woman she saved, a married mother of two children, in cooperation with Gift of Life.
The U.S. Air Force Band played special Chanukah selections, and there were songs from the Three Cantors – Jeff Nadel, Avi Albrecht and Aryeh Leib Hurwitz.
Traditional potato latkes and jelly doughnuts were served, free menorahs and dreidels were made available, and there were live appearances by “Dreidelman” and “The Maccabees.”
Rabbis Abraham Shemtov and Levi Shemtov then lit the National Menorah, accompanied by philanthropist Louis Mayberg and entrepreneur Brock Pierce.
First National Menorah Lit in 1979
The National Menorah Lighting started in 1979 as part of a campaign initiated in 1974 by the Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory—to raise awareness of the holiday and hold public menorah-lightings. It was attended, in 1979, in the midst of the Iran hostage crisis, by U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who lit the shamash and shared greetings with the assembled crowd.
Every president since has recognized Chanukah with a special menorah-lighting. In 1982, the menorah lit in Lafayette Park became publicly referred to as the “National Menorah” by U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
Due to its location, the National Menorah lighting has turned into somewhat of a “flagship lighting” for thousands of similar celebrations across the nation, and indeed, across the world. Recognizing this status, American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) established the National Menorah Council, which is instrumental in counseling and shepherding public menorah-lighting ceremonies around the world.
As befitting a ceremony on the lawn opposite the White House—home to the chief executive of the United States of America—the band concluded the event with a resounding rendition of “God Bless America!”
A video presentation of The National Menorah Lighting can be viewed on Chabad.org.
