For Hanukkah, Long Beach's menorah stands 27 feet tall
Rabbi Eli Goodman, head of Chabad of the Beaches, in front of one of Long Island's tallest and largest menorahs in Long Beach on Friday. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
It isn’t the tallest menorah in New York or the world, but it isn’t far off, either.
The menorah in Kennedy Plaza in Long Beach reaches 27 feet high and is so tall that rabbis must ride a fire department cherry picker to light the candles. The tallest menorah in the world is 32 feet — there are two of them in New York City.
But beyond friendly debate about the tallest menorah, Jewish leaders say they are an essential symbol of Hanukkah — which starts Wednesday night — and an important way to celebrate Jewish pride at one of the most difficult times in Israel’s history.
"I think it is important for the Jewish community to have something at the end of the year," said Rabbi Eli Goodman, head of Chabad of the Beaches, which organizes the menorah event in Long Beach. "While everybody else is celebrating in a very public fashion, the Jewish people need to also celebrate in a very public way."
He expects at least 500 people to attend the lighting of the menorah at 6 p.m. on Thursday, the second night of the eight-day "festival of lights." There will be fried potato latkes, jelly doughnuts, hot coffee and "parachuting dreidels." The start of Hanukkah this year coincides with Christmas, so Goodman delayed the event by a day.
Jewish people across Long Island are feeling the urge more than ever to celebrate their religion after the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, 2023, that left 1,200 people dead and 250 taken hostage, community leaders said. A war has raged since then, with Israel killing at least 45,000 people in the Gaza Strip in a counteroffensive, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. At least 100 hostages remain in Gaza, according to the Israeli government.
"The Jewish people are going through some real existential threats and questions, and it’s a time that pride in our heritage is very, very important," said Rabbi Tuvia Teldon, head of the Chabad movement on Long Island. "Some Jews have been hiding their Judaism as a result of what is going on in the world with the antisemitism. Don’t hide it, be proud of who you are."
Chabad has been erecting menorahs across Long Island for years, and now has about 100, he said. A Chabad rabbi who produces the menorahs also provides dozens more to other synagogues, governments, hospitals and local groups, he said. Menorahs can be seen in parks, by highways, in front of government buildings, bridges, sports stadiums, train stations, and in multiple other locations including synagogues themselves.
It wasn’t always that way, Teldon said. The public display of menorahs first started in the United States in the 1970s when an emissary of the then-leader of the worldwide Chabad movement, the Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, put one up across the street from the White House, he said.
"There were lots of Christmas trees but no public menorahs," Teldon said.
Since then, menorahs have become ubiquitous in many communities on Long Island and around the region and the world. One of the tallest is near Exit 37 on the Long Island Expressway. Another is by the UBS Arena in Elmont. The tallest one in the world is at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street in Manhattan by the Plaza Hotel and Central Park, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. That one is 32 feet high — the maximum height permitted under Jewish rules.
Jewish leaders have erected another one of the same height at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn.
There are even menorahs in Red Square in Moscow and by the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Menorahs are a centerpiece of Hanukkah, which commemorates what the faithful consider a miracle that happened more than 2,000 years ago.
The holiday recognizes the rededication of the sacred Temple of Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the second century Before the Common Era.
After Jewish warriors retook control of the temple from Syrian and Greek soldiers, they found oil for the eternal light in the synagogue, according to the Talmud. The oil appeared to be enough for a day, but the light miraculously burned for eight days.
In commemoration, Jews light a candle and shammes, a kindling candle, on the menorah on the first night of Hanukkah and another candle each successive night until the entire menorah is lit.
The story, and the festival, carry with them themes of hope, miracles, thanksgiving and religious freedom triumphing over political tyranny.
Rick Lewis, chief executive of the Mid-Island Y JCC in Plainview, says he hopes the menorahs and the overlap of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa this year can generate more unity among people.
The menorahs "are there to bring light to the community," he said. "We should all celebrate the holidays as one and not be so separated."
It isn’t the tallest menorah in New York or the world, but it isn’t far off, either.
The menorah in Kennedy Plaza in Long Beach reaches 27 feet high and is so tall that rabbis must ride a fire department cherry picker to light the candles. The tallest menorah in the world is 32 feet — there are two of them in New York City.
But beyond friendly debate about the tallest menorah, Jewish leaders say they are an essential symbol of Hanukkah — which starts Wednesday night — and an important way to celebrate Jewish pride at one of the most difficult times in Israel’s history.
"I think it is important for the Jewish community to have something at the end of the year," said Rabbi Eli Goodman, head of Chabad of the Beaches, which organizes the menorah event in Long Beach. "While everybody else is celebrating in a very public fashion, the Jewish people need to also celebrate in a very public way."
He expects at least 500 people to attend the lighting of the menorah at 6 p.m. on Thursday, the second night of the eight-day "festival of lights." There will be fried potato latkes, jelly doughnuts, hot coffee and "parachuting dreidels." The start of Hanukkah this year coincides with Christmas, so Goodman delayed the event by a day.
Jewish people across Long Island are feeling the urge more than ever to celebrate their religion after the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, 2023, that left 1,200 people dead and 250 taken hostage, community leaders said. A war has raged since then, with Israel killing at least 45,000 people in the Gaza Strip in a counteroffensive, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. At least 100 hostages remain in Gaza, according to the Israeli government.
"The Jewish people are going through some real existential threats and questions, and it’s a time that pride in our heritage is very, very important," said Rabbi Tuvia Teldon, head of the Chabad movement on Long Island. "Some Jews have been hiding their Judaism as a result of what is going on in the world with the antisemitism. Don’t hide it, be proud of who you are."
Chabad has been erecting menorahs across Long Island for years, and now has about 100, he said. A Chabad rabbi who produces the menorahs also provides dozens more to other synagogues, governments, hospitals and local groups, he said. Menorahs can be seen in parks, by highways, in front of government buildings, bridges, sports stadiums, train stations, and in multiple other locations including synagogues themselves.
It wasn’t always that way, Teldon said. The public display of menorahs first started in the United States in the 1970s when an emissary of the then-leader of the worldwide Chabad movement, the Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, put one up across the street from the White House, he said.
"There were lots of Christmas trees but no public menorahs," Teldon said.
Since then, menorahs have become ubiquitous in many communities on Long Island and around the region and the world. One of the tallest is near Exit 37 on the Long Island Expressway. Another is by the UBS Arena in Elmont. The tallest one in the world is at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street in Manhattan by the Plaza Hotel and Central Park, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. That one is 32 feet high — the maximum height permitted under Jewish rules.
Jewish leaders have erected another one of the same height at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn.
There are even menorahs in Red Square in Moscow and by the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Menorahs are a centerpiece of Hanukkah, which commemorates what the faithful consider a miracle that happened more than 2,000 years ago.
The holiday recognizes the rededication of the sacred Temple of Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the second century Before the Common Era.
After Jewish warriors retook control of the temple from Syrian and Greek soldiers, they found oil for the eternal light in the synagogue, according to the Talmud. The oil appeared to be enough for a day, but the light miraculously burned for eight days.
In commemoration, Jews light a candle and shammes, a kindling candle, on the menorah on the first night of Hanukkah and another candle each successive night until the entire menorah is lit.
The story, and the festival, carry with them themes of hope, miracles, thanksgiving and religious freedom triumphing over political tyranny.
Rick Lewis, chief executive of the Mid-Island Y JCC in Plainview, says he hopes the menorahs and the overlap of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa this year can generate more unity among people.
The menorahs "are there to bring light to the community," he said. "We should all celebrate the holidays as one and not be so separated."
Holiday celebrations around LI From house decorations and candy makers to restaurant and theater offerings, NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano checks out how Long Islanders are celebrating this holiday season.
Holiday celebrations around LI From house decorations and candy makers to restaurant and theater offerings, NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano checks out how Long Islanders are celebrating this holiday season.
