Event Location: Union square
Geary & Powell st S. Francisco, CA
Sat, Dec. 8: First candle of Menorah to be lit at 7:00 pm
Sun, Dec. 9: Second candle of Menorah to be lit at 5:00 pm
Bill Graham Menorah Day, Festivities begin @ 3 pm
Mon, Dec. 10: Third candle of Menorah to be lit at 5:00 pm
Tues, Dec. 11: Fourth candle of Menorah to be lit at 5:00 pm
Wed, Dec. 12: Fifth candle of Menorah to be lit at 5:00 pm
Thur, Dec 13: Sixth candle of Menorah to be lit at 5:00 pm
Fri., Dec. 14: Seventh candle of Menorah to be lit at 3:00 pm
Sat, Dec. 15: Eighth candle of Menorah to be lit at 7:00 pm
Join Rabbi Yosef Langer and Chabad of SF in lighting The Bill Graham Menorah and celebrating Chanukah in Union Square. This year is the 38th lighting of the Bill Graham Menorah. For many Jews and non-Jews alike, this beautiful tradition is an opportunity to share culture and rejoice in our freedom of religion in America.
Sunday, December 9th is Bill Graham Menorah Day. When Chabad came to Bill and asked him to build a giant Menorah and light it every year in Union Square, Bill said yes. Though he underwrote the entire thing, he never looked for any accolades surrounding the Menorah. After his death, Rabbi Langer and Chabad wanted to honor his memory by dedicating the Menorah to his name. In 1993, Mayor Frank Jordan declared that every year one day of Chanukah would forever be Bill Graham Menorah Day. This year in cooperation with the Safeway Skating rink we are hosting a Channukah skating party before the lighting.
In 1975, when this beautiful mahogany Menorah was first lit, it was the first time an outdoor, public Menorah lighting was celebrated outside of Israel. Now, there are thousands and thousands of similar celebrations world-wide. Our Menorah, The Mama Menorah, The Bill Graham Menorah, was the first and has inspired the rest.
One of the biggest mitzvahs of Chanukah is to have the light of the Menorah spread light into the streets. When you light the Menorah at home, you place the Menorah in the window, so, the light of the Menorah shines in the street. This was the inspiration years ago to build and light a stadium sized Menorah.
Joining us as we light the Menorah is the most important thing, but you can also help us to spread the light by telling people, Jews and Non-Jews, and, if you can, by giving a donation to the Bill Graham Menorah Fund. We'd like you to please give from the heart and help keep this marvelous mitzvah alive and keep it burning with the same spirit and inspiration that ignited this tradition 34 years ago when Chabad and Bill Graham built and first lit our Mama Menorah.
If you would like to sponsor an evening in memory of a loved one or just for the Mitzvhah , please contact our office at 415-668-6178 or email us here!HAPPY CHANUKAH FROM CHABAD OF SF!
