HEIGHT LIGHT: The city’s tallest mayor, in cherry picker with mic, lit Brooklyn’s largest menorah on Dec. 2 to
celebrate the fi rst night of Hanukkah. Photo by Trey Pentecost
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They called in the big goy to
light this massive menorah!
The city’s tallest mayor celebrated
the fi rst night of Hanukkah
on Dec. 2 by returning
to his home borough to light
Kings County’s largest menorah
at Grand Army Plaza, delighting
thousands of locals
who came out to the annual
event that one dad called a beloved
holiday tradition.
“We’ve been going every
year for the past couple years,
and the kids love it,” said Yehuda
Apfelbaum. “They were
just in awe of watching the
mayor light the menorah.”
Some 2,000 Brooklynites
gathered to kick off the eightday
holiday at the more than
32-foot menorah’s fi rst lighting
this season, according to organizers
with Chabad of Park
Slope, who staged the massive
spectacle for the 34th year.
The festivities began with
a set by Jewish musical act
Pey Dalid, whose members regaled
the audience with their
special fusion of rock, hip hop,
and reggae as hosts handed
out around 3,000 latkes and
500 free toys to local youngsters,
according to the synagogue’s
Rabbi Shimon Hecht,
the man in charge of the menorah
lighting events since the
colossal candelabra debuted
in Brooklyn decades ago.
And at sundown, the tallest
mayor in New York City
history, Bill DeBlasio — who
edges out six-foot-four-inch
former Mayor John Lindsay
by an inch — lit the menorah,
which Hecht touted
as “the world’s largest” until
2016 , when a rabbinical
court awarded the coveted title
to a rival candleholder set
up in Manhattan.
The court’s ruling, however,
did little to dilute the
legend and allure of the local
menorah, which Hecht now
simply advertises as “Brooklyn’s
largest,” according to the
rabbi.
“There are many menorahs
around New York and
the world, but this attracts
people’s attention and they
say, ‘Wow, a giant menorah,’ ”
he said.
Those who missed the inaugural
lighting can still
watch leaders of Chabad of
Park Slope light the menorah
nightly through Hanukkah’s
last day on Dec. 9, according to
synagogue leaders, who said
locals should visit their website
for more information, including
timing of events.
Hanukkah’s big
kickoff in boro
Giant menorah draws thousands to
Grand Army Plaza on fi rst night