A 9' Menorah is On It's Way

Every afternoon lately, the moment Dalia bursts through the door—coat half-zipped, backpack sliding off one shoulder—she asks the same question:

“Where’s the menorah?”

And she doesn’t mean the row of small, well-loved family ones we line up along the windowsill as the days tilt toward Hanukkah. She means the nine-foot-tall menorah currently making its way across the country to our home, the one that will soon tower over both of us as it takes its place in Montefiore Square.

At the heart of Hanukkah is the mitzvah of pirsumei nisa (literally: publicizing the miracle)—sharing light out loud, letting the miracle spill past the threshold of our homes and into the streets we live in.

This year, we’re taking that calling seriously. If the shipping stars align, stay tuned for an unboxing video. (Even we have no idea what it will look like emerging from its gigantic package.)

We can’t wait to bring that menorah into the Harlem night and watch it glow through all eight days. And on December 16th, we’ll gather around it with friends and neighbors from across West Harlem—community partners, culture-makers, elders, kids, everyone—lifting light together.

And that’s just one shimmer of what awaits you for #HanukkahAcrossHarlem. There are micro-grants to help you host your own Hanukkah gathering, more celebrations than we can count, and even extra supplies (think menorahs and candles) for anyone who needs.

In short, there’s a lot of light to share this season.