Menorah at Eagle Rock City Hall

We are proud to say that, with the help of many good people at city hall, there is a Menorah on public display in Eagle Rock, for the first time in history!

Click here to see some of Chabad's public Menorahs from around the globe.

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Why a Menorah?

The story of Chanukah tells of the miraculous victory of the few freedom fighters over their oppressive overlords, a story of religious freedom, an ironic tale of tolerance and understanding. But, surprisingly, that's not the main focus of the Chanukah celebration. Yes, we thank G-d for His deliverance, and we commemorate the victory in other ways, but the primary Mitzvah of Chanukah is with the Menorah.

Back in the days of the original Chanukah, the Syrian-Greeks tried their utmost to uproot the Jewish People's unwavering belief in G-dliness. To this end, they defiled the Holy Temple, erecting idols and sacrificing swine on the altar. But that wasn't enough. The Greeks opened and contaminated every flask of pure oil in the Temple. This was their final stand. Even after the war and miraculous defeat of the Syrian-Greek army, after the oppressors were driven out of the land, they were still trying to eradicate our faith in holiness, sacredness, and purity. 

When the Maccabbees returned to the Temple and thoroughly cleansed it, they wanted to light the Temple Menorah, as commanded by G-d in the Torah, but they couldn't find any pure oil. They could have waited a week for new oil. They could even have lit the Menorah with impure oil! But the Maccabbees, being the Maccabbees, would not give in. They still held onto the belief that there is always something sacred, something pure, even if it's hidden away.

And G-d showed them that they were right. They found a single cruse of oil, only enough to last for one day, but miraculously, it lasted for eight.

The Menorah, besides for being a universal symbol of religious freedom and tolerance, holds a much deeper message as well. No matter who we are, each one of us has a cruse of pure oil deep down inside, just waiting to be ignited. All we need to do is believe in ourselves, trust in G-d, and never give up.