The world’s largest Hanukkah menorah will be lit in New York City’s Central Park to welcome the first night of the Festival of Lights.
The menorah, which stands a whopping 32 feet tall, will be lit in Central Park’s Grand Army Plaza at 5:30 p.m. on December 7, according to the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. The towering candelabrum was first named the world’s largest by Guinness World Records in 2006, thanks to its impressive height, 28-foot width and 4,000-pound weight.
“The menorah was designed from a hand drawing by [Maimonides] based on the original menorah in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, and is the largest size permitted by Halacha – Jewish law,” according to Guinness World Records.
The menorah is lit every night for eight days to celebrate the festival of Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century B.C. It represents the story of how a one-day supply of oil at the time lasted for eight days, according to the Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center.
The Central Park Menorah will be lit at 5:30 pm on 7 December, 8 December, 9 December. 10 December, 11 December and 14 December. It will also be lit at 3:30 p.m. on 12 December and at 8:30 p.m. on 13 December.
In addition to the Central Park celebration, a similarly large menorah will be lit in Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza. Billed as Brooklyn’s largest menorah, the ceremony will feature live music, gifts for children and hot latkes.
The Brooklyn menorah is also 32 feet tall, according to New York City Tourism + Conventions. A free kickoff concert in Brooklyn will begin at 5 p.m. on December 7, according to the Parks Department.