Beginning in the Far East and approaching the Americas, the eight-day holiday of Chanukah has begun.

Public menorahs are in the process of being lit all over the world as part of the Chabad-Lubavitch Chanukah campaign in more than 100 countries and territories, including all 50 U.S. states. Some 15,000 oversized menorahs will be kindled in front of landmarks such as the White House, Mount Rushmore, the Eiffel Tower, the Brandenburg Gate and the Kremlin. The campaign was set into motion in 1973 by the Lubavitcher Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory.

Chanukah starts on the night of Tuesday, Dec. 12, and continues through Wednesday, Dec. 20. For information and events at Chabad centers around the world, visit: Chabad.org Chanukah.

Chabad Rabbi Danny Yaffe lights the menorah at the Sydney Opera House/Harbour in Australia, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday of Chanukah.
Chabad Rabbi Danny Yaffe lights the menorah at the Sydney Opera House/Harbour in Australia, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday of Chanukah.
Chabad Rabbi Levi Wolf leads a boys choir at the menorah-lighting organized by The Central Synagogue at the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping center in Sydney, Australia, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday of Chanukah. (Photo: Alon Bar David)
Chabad Rabbi Levi Wolf leads a boys choir at the menorah-lighting organized by The Central Synagogue at the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping center in Sydney, Australia, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday of Chanukah. (Photo: Alon Bar David)
A menorah organized by Chabad-Lubavitch of Berlin stands at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday of Chanukah.
A menorah organized by Chabad-Lubavitch of Berlin stands at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday of Chanukah.
Light illuminates the night in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany.
Light illuminates the night in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany.
Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar leads the lighting of the Chanukah menorah and live music celebration in Revolution Square, Moscow, not far from the Kremlin, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday of Chanukah.
Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar leads the lighting of the Chanukah menorah and live music celebration in Revolution Square, Moscow, not far from the Kremlin, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday of Chanukah.
This is the 10th year that the giant menorah has stood at Trafalgar Square, organized by Chabad, the Jewish Leadership Council and the London Jewish Forum, and supported by the Mayor's Office of London. Here it is on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday of Chanukah. (Photo: Mayor's Press Office of London)
This is the 10th year that the giant menorah has stood at Trafalgar Square, organized by Chabad, the Jewish Leadership Council and the London Jewish Forum, and supported by the Mayor's Office of London. Here it is on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday of Chanukah. (Photo: Mayor's Press Office of London)
Dancing after the lighting of the menorah at the Place de la République in Central Paris on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday of Chanukah. (Photo: Thierry Guez)
Dancing after the lighting of the menorah at the Place de la République in Central Paris on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday of Chanukah. (Photo: Thierry Guez)
Happy Chanukah from France! (Photo: Thierry Guez)
Happy Chanukah from France! (Photo: Thierry Guez)
Gathering together in Gothenburg, Sweden, to light the menorah on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday of Chanukah.
Gathering together in Gothenburg, Sweden, to light the menorah on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday of Chanukah.
The event in Gothenburg, attended by the city’s mayor, Ann-Sofie Hermansson, took place just days after a local synagogue was firebombed. Here, eight community members form a human menorah, spreading light and a positive Jewish message to the world.
The event in Gothenburg, attended by the city’s mayor, Ann-Sofie Hermansson, took place just days after a local synagogue was firebombed. Here, eight community members form a human menorah, spreading light and a positive Jewish message to the world.
Actor Billy Crystal, center, lit the menorah at an event sponsored by Rabbi Zushe and Zisi Cunin, who direct Chabad of Pacific Palisades, Calif., and Rabbi Eli and Elka Baitelman, also of the Palisades Chabad. Crystal was accompanied by his wife, Janice, and to his left, Rick Caruso, owner of the new Palisades Village where the lighting was held, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday.
Actor Billy Crystal, center, lit the menorah at an event sponsored by Rabbi Zushe and Zisi Cunin, who direct Chabad of Pacific Palisades, Calif., and Rabbi Eli and Elka Baitelman, also of the Palisades Chabad. Crystal was accompanied by his wife, Janice, and to his left, Rick Caruso, owner of the new Palisades Village where the lighting was held, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday.
Hundreds of celebrants gathered at the public menorah-lighting organized by Chabad-Lubavitch in Campo di Ghetto Nuovo in Venice, Italy, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday of Chanukah.
Hundreds of celebrants gathered at the public menorah-lighting organized by Chabad-Lubavitch in Campo di Ghetto Nuovo in Venice, Italy, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday of Chanukah.
Rabbi Boruch Oberlander, left, director of Lubavitch of Hungary, and violinist Zoltán Mága usher in the initial of daily celebrations related to the 20th anniversary of Chanukah menorah-lightings in Budapest, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday.
Rabbi Boruch Oberlander, left, director of Lubavitch of Hungary, and violinist Zoltán Mága usher in the initial of daily celebrations related to the 20th anniversary of Chanukah menorah-lightings in Budapest, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday.
Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Andrej Babis, left, and Israeli Ambassador to the Czech Republic Daniel Meron, right, join Rabbi Manis Barash at the lighting in Prague on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday of Chanukah. (Photo: Karl Cudlín)
Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Andrej Babis, left, and Israeli Ambassador to the Czech Republic Daniel Meron, right, join Rabbi Manis Barash at the lighting in Prague on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of the eight-day holiday of Chanukah. (Photo: Karl Cudlín)
Assembling the Chanukah ice menorah sponsored by Chabad Lubavitch of Midtown Manhattan.
Assembling the Chanukah ice menorah sponsored by Chabad Lubavitch of Midtown Manhattan.
Huge crowds came for the lighting of the ice menorah in Midtown Manhattan, where some 600 doughnuts and 900 latkes were also served.
Huge crowds came for the lighting of the ice menorah in Midtown Manhattan, where some 600 doughnuts and 900 latkes were also served.
Chabad of Jamaica brought out local residents and tourists to a celebration that featured the kindling of an 8-foot-tall bamboo menorah.
Chabad of Jamaica brought out local residents and tourists to a celebration that featured the kindling of an 8-foot-tall bamboo menorah.
It was high flying as Chabad of New Mexico in Albuquerque held a “Chanukah Night Glow” event on Dec. 17, where hot-air balloons formed a rather unusual, though stunningly beautiful, menorah in the sky.
It was high flying as Chabad of New Mexico in Albuquerque held a “Chanukah Night Glow” event on Dec. 17, where hot-air balloons formed a rather unusual, though stunningly beautiful, menorah in the sky.