‘And There Was Light’: A Worldwide Look at Chabad’s Public Menorahs

Exactly 50 years ago, Rabbi Abraham Shemtov kindled the first-ever public menorah at the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Five years later, in the winter of 1979, U.S. President Jimmy Carter—who passed away on Dec. 29, the fourth night of Chanukah this year—made history by participating in a public menorah-lighting outside of the White House, inaugurating the National Menorah in Washington, D.C.

Today, Chabad-Lubavitch kindles more than 15,000 menorahs worldwide. From Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts to the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, from the sandy beaches of the Caribbean to the ancient capitals of Europe, the Chanukah lights illuminate a world that at times may appear very dark, reminding one and all of the “triumph of freedom over oppression, of spirit over matter, of light over darkness.”

The eight-day holiday, which began on Dec. 25 and continues through Jan. 2, features nightly menorah lightings that draw millions of participants. Chabad-Lubavitch also distributes more than 700,000 tin menorahs, 30,800,000 candles and 2,500,000 holiday guides (in at least 13 languages) to Jews worldwide. Here are scenes from menorah-lightings and Chanukah events around the world during this year’s “Festival of Lights.”

Kathmandu, Nepal

A woman lights the menorah in Kathmandu, Nepal, on the sixth night of Chanukah 2024.

Chabad of Nepal

Baku, Azerbaijan

Rabbi Shneor Segal speaks at a women's event in Baku, Azerbaijan, on the sixth night of Chanukah.

Chabad of Baku

Key West, Florida

Rabbi Yaakov Zucker stands with his daughter in Key West, Fla., home of the southernmost menorah in the United States, on the sixth night of Chanukah.

Chabad Jewish Center of the Florida Keys

Tokyo, Japan

Rabbi Mendi Sudakevich stands in front of a public menorah in the city of Tokyo on the fifth night of Chanukah.

Chabad of Tokyo

Edinburgh, Scotland

Rabbi Pinny Weinman lights the fifth candle of the public menorah placed by Chabad-Lubavitch in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Chabad of Edinburgh

St. Louis, Missouri

Rabbi Chaim Landa lights the menorah in the city of St. Louis.

Chabad of St. Louis

Montego Bay, Jamaica

Rabbi Yaakov Raskin addresses the crowd at Chabad of Jamaica's Chanukah event on the fifth night of the holiday.

Chabad of Jamaica

Bucharest, Romania

Rabbi Naftali Deutsch is joined by a community member on the fifth night of Chanukah to light the candles of the public menorah in the city of Bucharest.

Chabad of Romania

Hanover, Germany

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz lights a public menorah placed by Chabad-Lubavitch in front of the Hanover Opera House on the fifth night of Chanukah.

Chabad of Hanover

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The first-ever public menorah, lit for the first time exactly 50 years ago, stands in front of the current menorah at the Liberty Bell in the city of Philadelphia.

Chabad of Philadelphia

Birobidzhan, Russia

Chabad Rabbi Efraim Kolpak speaks in front of a public ice menorah placed by Chabad-Lubavitch in Birobidzhan, Russia, on the fourth night of Chanukah.

Chabad of Birobidzhan

Washington, D.C.

The National Menorah is lit on the Ellipse near the White House in Wahsington, D.C.

American Friends of Lubavitch