The participation of public officials in Chanukah celebrations has become a worldwide tradition. Here is a sample of some noteworthy events this year—some of them firsts, and some of them farewells.
Amsterdam, Holland
Vice Mayor of Amsterdam Eric van der Burg thinks that the answer to modern-day intolerance is openly demonstrating the freedom of religion and freedom of speech. So on Dec. 16—the first night of Chanukah—he helped light the public menorah in the Zuidas financial district in Amsterdam, together with Rabbi Yanki Jacobs, co-director of Chabad on Campus NL & Amsterdam Zuidas in the Netherlands. “The message of Chanukah is universal,” said the rabbi. “You can’t fight darkness with more darkness. Rather, you do so by lighting small flames. Each good deed that a person does makes the world a bit better place.” From left are Jacobs, Van der Burg and Jewish businessman Stefan Conrad.
Arizona
Chabad of Arizona celebrated the first night of Chanukah with a grand menorah-lighting across from the State Capitol with Gov. Jan Brewer, followed by a car-menorah parade through downtown Phoenix. The procession ended at Chabad of Arizona Jewish Center, where there were Chanukah delicacies and entertainment, including a bounce house for kids. “It is a holiday that enriches our lives with the light of tradition,” said Rabbi Zalman Levertov, director of Chabad of Arizona. “In ancient times, our ancestors rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem with the menorah. Today, we rededicate ourselves to making this world a better and brighter place.” Rabbi Levi Levertov of Chabad of Arizona handed Brewer the shamash (helper candle) used to light the other candles.
Canberra, Australia
On the first night of Chanukah—and marking a first-time ever—Chabad ACT and the Northern Canberra Synagogue held an inaugural menorah-lighting at the ACT Legislative Assembly with local and international dignitaries, including those from Israel, Argentina, Romania and Hungary. Rabbi Shmueli Feldman, far left, co-director of Chabad Australian Capital Territory in Canberra and chairman of Chabad ACT Ltd., led the program, which included a prayer for lives lost in the recent cafe attack in Sydney. Head shaliach (Chabad emissary) Rabbi Pinchus Feldman of Chabad NSW in Bondi Beach, standing in front of the menorah, delivered an invocation prayer. Greetings from Prime Minister of Australia Tony Abbott were read by Harry Chaim Oppermann, Jewish representative to the Canberra Interfaith Forum. Another highlight: the singing of “Maoz Tzur” by the Canberra Jewish Children’s Choir.
Florida
Jewish residents gathered to celebrate Chanukah with Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Dec. 17 at Chabad of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., co-directed by Rabbi Dovid and Chana Vigler. The governor arrived prepared for the occasion with an embroidered kipah that read “Governor Rick Scott.” The event was coordinated by Chana Vigler, who presented Scott with a crystal menorah. Scott helped light the menorah with Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, who is Jewish; then they both lit candles held by those gathered in the synagogue. From left are Lopez-Cantera, Scott, Cantor Leibel Krinsky and Rabbi Vigler. The governor attended other Chanukah lightings in the state, including one with Rabbi Schneur Zalman and Chanie Oirechman, co-directors of Chabad Lubavitch of the Panhandle-Tallahassee and Florida State University, where the rabbi spoke about Scott’s progress on various Jewish issues, such as getting kosher food to local Jewish inmates. Rabbi Yossie Denburg of Chabad of Coral Springs, Fla., and Chabad Hebrew Academy in Margate, Fla., also presented the governor a menorah made by one of his students, Shira Azulai, incorporating the tattooed number—140603—of a Holocaust survivor.
Georgia
This year marked the first time a public menorah-lighting took place at City Hall in Athens, Ga., and thus the first time Athens-Clarke County Mayor Nancy Denson assisted in official duties associated with it. Held on the first night of Chanukah, the program was organized by Rabbi Michoel and Chana Refson, co-directors of Chabad of Athens-UGA (University of Georgia). Denson lit the shamash, while the rabbi explained that its purpose is to serve and light the other candles; along those lines, he said, a mayor’s job is dedicated to service as well—to public service. About 120 people attended the event, which included music, holiday food, crafts for kids, and the handing out of dreidels and menorah kits. According to Refson, Denson liked it so much that she aims to make the lighting an annual activity.
Illinois
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, far right, was presented with a glass menorah this Chanukah by Chabad Rabbi Shmuel Notik, second from left. Chabad Rabbi Levi Notik, second from right, looks on, along with State Sen. Ira Silverstein and Alderman Debra Silverstein. This took place on the third night of Chanukah, just outside Synagogue F.R.E.E. of Chicago at the ribbon-cutting for the city’s streetscape project (the revitalizing of Devon Avenue). The first Jewish mayor of the city, Emanuel been lighting the giant menorah at Daley Plaza for years now. Prior to that, he helped light the National Menorah Lighting in Washington, D.C., when he served as the White House Chief of Staff.
Kiev, Ukraine
Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kiev, Ukraine, helped ignite the Chanukah menorah this year in front of a crowd of 350 people, which included many Israelis and local dignitaries. Rabbi Jonathan Markowitz, chief rabbi of Kiev, lit the menorah and spoke about the nature of the holiday—that a little light dispels much darkness, and that even after the last candle of the menorah goes out, “we must always remember to add light to the world.” In November, the 43-year-old Klitschko, who is a former world boxing champion, traveled to Israel for a week, holding meetings with mayors and officials to discuss urban administration and other issues. He also spent time in Jerusalem at Yad Vashem, Israel’s official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, where he and his group of visitors were visibly moved by the exhibits.
Manchester, England
The Chabad House of Lubavitch Manchester in England organized two major Chanukah events this year. About 300 people gathered on the sixth night of the holiday in Albert Square, opposite the city’s town hall, to witness the giant menorah-lighting there. Delegates in attendance were, from left, Lord Mayor of Manchester Susan Cooley; Rabbi Avrohom Jaffe, head shaliach (Chabad emissary) of Lubavitch Manchester; Sharon Bannister, president of the Jewish Representative Council of Manchester; and Rabbi Yoel Niasoff, who recited the Chanukah blessings. The roads nearby were closed so attendees could dance to live music and enjoy the festivities. The night before, on Saturday, Dec. 20, some 350 men, women and children enjoyed a menorah-lighting event with fireworks and traditional Chanukah foods. A raffle was held for the kids, with four winners getting the chance to ride up on the cherry picker for the lighting of a huge menorah.
Maryland
A six-foot menorah was inaugurated in Baltimore’s City Hall on the morning of Dec. 16, far bigger than the small one usually on display. It was sponsored by the Jewish Uniformed Service Association and City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young. Dedicating the new menorah, from left, are Rabbi Shmuel Kaplan, regional director of Chabad Lubavitch of Maryland; Rabbi Chesky Tenenbaum, director of the Jewish Uniformed Service Association; Betsy Gardner, neighborhood liaison of the City Council President’s office; and Young. The boys’ choir from Cheder Chabad of Baltimore performed Chanukah songs after the menorah’s debut. That same night, Maryland Gov.-elect Larry Hogan helped light a 30-foot menorah on the first night of the holiday in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor; the evening featured a parade as well.
Missouri
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon and his wife, Georganne, took part a menorah-lighting ceremony at the governor’s mansion in Jefferson City on the third night of Chanukah, with other public officials in attendance. Nixon also issued a proclamation recognizing Chabad’s “Show Me Chanukah” public menorah-lightings throughout the state. The event was sponsored by Chabad of Greater St. Louis, with the participation of Jewish communities throughout Missouri, including Jefferson City, Columbia and Kansas City. Rabbi Yosef Landa, regional director of Chabad of Greater St. Louis, conducted the ceremony, saying “the lighting of the menorah at the governor’s mansion is a wonderful symbol of the religious diversity that is the hallmark of Missouri and of this great country.”
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett lit the menorah at the State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., with Rabbi Shmuel Pewzner, director of Chabad Lubavitch of Harrisburg. It’s been a tradition for the outgoing governor to light the menorah and hold Chanukah festivities, which in the past have included handing out chocolate coins to children and even some impromptu dancing with a circle of Jewish men.
Texas
On the first night of Chanukah, outgoing Texas Gov. Rick Perry lit the official, 12-foot menorah erected at the Texas State Capitol for the last time before leaving the governor’s mansion. It was followed by a community-wide celebration, where hundreds of people enjoyed live music and traditional holiday foods, such as jelly doughnuts and potato latkes. The public menorah-lighting was organized by Rabbi Mendy Levertov, associate rabbi of Chabad of Austin, Texas. Throughout the state, Chabad held Chanukah events and celebrations that featured giant menorahs made out of ice and LEGOS, giant dreidel houses, “Chanukah Wonderlands” and car-menorah parades.
Washington, D.C.
Lighting the menorah on the third night of the eight-day festival at the International Financial Institutions Chanukah celebration are, from left, Rabbi Levi Shemtov, executive vice president of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad); Ron Dermer, Israeli ambassador to the United States; Julie T. Katzman, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Inter-American Development Bank; and Stanley Fischer, vice chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The event was attended by hundreds of financiers, institution staff and diplomats from dozens of countries at the headquarters of the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, D.C. It was sponsored by American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) in cooperation with the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the Inter-American Development Bank.
Washington, D.C.
Rabbi Levi Shemtov, executive vice president and director of the Washington office of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad), welcomed U.S. Vice President Joe Biden as guest speaker for the lighting of the National Menorah in Washington, D.C. On the first night of Chanukah, with the White House in the background, Biden emphasized the centrality of Jewish values to American life. He spoke of the teachings of the Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory—and posited that the age-old “Jewish notion of religious freedom, of safety in your land, of being treated with dignity in your own community,” went on to become “the bedrock” of the United States of America. Shemtov then lit the giant menorah. His father, Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, chairman of the executive committee of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, the umbrella organization of Chabad-Lubavitch, also spoke at the event.
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