The Rabbi, The Robot and The Burning Bush:
Chabad of S.F. partnering with Silicon Valley
Art & Tech community for a most unorthodox
Chanukah celebration in Union Square
“Message for a Miracle!”
EVENT DETAILS
Background:
San Francisco was the first city outside of Israel to host a public Menorah lighting back in the 70's. The giant menorah emerged from a shared vision between Rabbi Langer and legendary concert promoter Bill Graham. The Bill Graham Menorah - The Mama Menorah and Rabbi Langer have become fixtures here in the SF landscape. On a sunny day, Rabbi Langer can be seen riding his motorcycle around town, pausing to take a breath with suited men in the financial district or leading a spirited discussion at The Gate in San Leandro. On Fridays, The Rally Rabbi takes it to the street with an invitation to board the mitvah mobile-cable car for davening, and if you're lucky he might pull you aside and ask, "can you imagine how good it would be to tour all the Jewish places here and offer the very best kosher corned beef sandwich on toasted rye bread, with a crisp dill pickle?"
How could we be surprised that this Chanukah we literally have the world's first celebration that includes
The Rabbi, The Robot and The Burning Bush:
Chabad of S.F. partnering with Silicon Valley
Art & Tech community for a most unorthodox
Chanukah celebration in Union Square
“Message for a Miracle!”
Tuesday, December 3, 5pm:
Rabbi Langer welcome
“The Menorah is a universal symbol of freedom and the power of light to outshine the darkness around us,” Langer says. “Now is the time for all people to gather around and bring thoughts of miracles and blessings into their lives. The window of opportunity is now.”
Message for a Miracle
During the ceremony, guests will be invited to share their private requests for miracles, placing them in the miracle vessels in Union Square to be hand delivered to the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Beginning the week prior to the ceremony, and continuing through 2014, a social social media team will be campaigning across the world wide web for miracles
Email: miraclelightnow@gmail.com
Text/voicemail: 1.415.602.4643
Tweet: #miraclelightnow
Post: https://www.facebook.com/miraclelightnow
DT: https://twitter.com/MiracleLightNow
Handwrite: deposit in miracle vessels at Union Square
5,30pm:
Rabbi Langer indicates the 30 foot tall DIGITAL LIGHT SHOW - BURNING BUSH re-configured from the Playa for the occasion with 9 dancing flames as a gift for the evening by Mauricio Bustos.
5:45pm:
Rabbi Langer points to all the BURNING LIGHT - VESSELS FOR MIRACLES provided as a gift for the evening by John Baden
These and other works by Baden and Bustos can be viewed after the event as part of a new grassroots program bringing together Art & Tech in Silicon Valley. The GATE in San Leandro will provide freespace for artists, community activities and a long runway for traditional makers and emerging technology.
According to Rabbi Langer, the evening’s events carry a powerful message to people of all backgrounds. "We can ask for light, and we can also give light. Giving back is a way that each of us can bring down the light in our own community within the context of our own lives. "
6,00 pm:
Robot Isaac marches out and lights the leader candle for the Menorah, symbol and cyborg meet. The robot is named after famed science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov, and will be present throughout the menorah lighting ceremony. Event organizers are excited about the marriage of past and future at the event. Seven more candles are lit on the giant sized Mama Menorah that was gifted by Bill Graham.
Robot Isaac was built by David Calkins, Head of the Robotics Society of America
The Robot's interaction was organized by Ken Goldberg, Professor of UC Berkeley and Researcher of Robotics, Automation, and New Media
who states,
"As CP Snow observed, new ideas often emerge from the clash of cultures. Menorahs represent the past and robots represent the future. Rabbi Langer and I have a hunch that a ritual that brings them together will generate some interesting new sparks."
For additional information Click Here
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