Eight foot Menorah to light up Shoreline as part of world's largest Chanukah observance

This Hanukkah, Jewish Community commemorates pnce-every-seven-years tradition

Chabad Jewish Russian Center will ignite a public eight-foot menorah erected at Shoreline City Hall, 17500 Midvale Ave N, Shoreline 98133, followed by a community-wide celebration on the first night of Chanukah, which falls on December 6, 2015.

Public Menorah Lighting, Shoreline City Hall, December 6th 4:00pm, free and open to the public.

The ceremony will feature Shoreline City Councilman Jesse Salomon. Following the menorah lighting ceremony, people will dance, sing and eat the night away, with freshly made donuts and chocolate gelt.

The public menorah lighting was organized by Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Yechezkel Rapoport, director of Chabad Jewish Russian Center, who remarked,

“The Menorah serves as a symbol of Shoreline's dedication to preserve and encourage the right and liberty of all its citizens to worship G-d freely, openly, and with pride. Specifically, in America, a nation that was founded upon and vigorously protects the right of every person to practice his or her religion free from restraint and persecution, the Menorah takes on profound significance, embodying both religious and constitutional principles.”

Shoreline's menorah is one of thousands of large public menorahs sponsored by Chabad throughout the world, helping children and adults of all walks of life discover and enjoy the holiday message.

This year’s Hanukkah celebrations bring added significance as Jewish communities worldwide celebrate the year of Hakhel, a once-every-seven-years opportunity to celebrate Jewish unity and learning. Throughout the year, Jewish synagogues and organizations are hosting communal gatherings for men, women and children dedicated to encouraging Jewish observance.

Throughout the State of Washington, Chabad will be presenting scores of Chanukah events and celebrations, including public menorah lightings, Menorah Parades, Latkes parties, Giant Dreidel Houses, “Chanukah Wonderlands” and more. Information about Chanukah and a local schedule of events here.

Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, recalls the victory more than 2,100 years ago of a militarily weak but spiritually strong Jewish people who defeated a ruthless enemy that had overrun ancient Israel and sought to impose restrictions on the Jewish way of life, prohibit religious freedom and force the Jewish people to accept a foreign religion. During the occupation of Jerusalem and the Temple, the Syrian Greeks desecrated and defiled the oils prepared for the lighting of the Menorah, which was part of the daily service in the temple. Upon recapturing the Temple from the Syrian Greeks, the Jewish people found only one jar of undefiled oil, enough to burn only one day, but it lasted miraculously for eight days until new, pure olive oil was produced. In commemoration of this event, the Jewish people celebrate Chanukah for eight days by lighting an eight-branched candelabra known as a Menorah. The Menorah is placed in highly-visible place to publicize the miracle, with its message of hope and religious freedom, to all. Today, people of all faiths consider the Chanukah holiday as a symbol and message of the triumph of freedom over oppression, of spirit over matter, of light over darkness.

Chabad Jewish Russian Center offers Jewish education, outreach and social service programming for families and individuals of all ages, backgrounds and affiliations. For more information, contact Rabbi Yechezkel Rapoport, Chabad Jewish Russian Center, at 206-387-3919.