As we approach this year’s Hanukkah celebration, which begins Dec. 7, Chabad urges the community to embrace their Jewish heritage in a big way. Big in the form of a new public mega-menorah to be installed at Kiener Plaza Park, near the Gateway Arch. The 29-foot menorah is just 5-feet shorter than the world’s largest menorah, which stands 36 feet tall and is located in Manhattan, NY.
This significant installation, generously funded by local philanthropist Michael Staenberg, will bear the name “The Staenberg Menorah” and will illuminate the surroundings throughout the entire eight-day Hanukkah festival.
“I think the message of this menorah is that despite everything going on in our world, the Jewish people stand tall, proud and confident,” said Rabbi Yosef Landa, regional director of Chabad of Greater St. Louis, the organization behind this effort. “Now, more than ever, we need to be sharing the light of Hanukkah with our entire St. Louis region, and light never fails to overcome darkness.”
Staenberg, president of the St. Louis Jewish Light’s Board of Trustees, echoed Rabbi Landa’s sentiment.
“Now, more than ever we need to feel pride in being Jewish and being Jewish in St. Louis. This giant menorah should certainly do that,” said Staenberg.
Standing 29-feet tall and 18 -eet wide, The Staenberg Menorah contains a total of 32 lights and is built out of 250 feet of truss. It was built in just a month and a half by Klance Unlimited, a St. Louis-based production support company.
The official lighting
The entire St. Louis community is invited to the inaugural Staenberg menorah lighting on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. The lighting will be followed by a holiday celebration, which will feature holiday music and free ice skating, as well as hot drinks and a selection of traditional Hanukkah foods that will be for sale and sponsored by Cantor Injury Law.
The event is free, but all are asked to register online.
For a full directory of public menorah lightings in the St. Louis region, visit: www.ChabadSTL.org
The Staenberg Menorah lighting
WHO: Open to the public
WHAT: Hanukkah @ The Arch
WHERE: 6 p.m. at Kiener Plaza Park
FREE TICKETS’ www.ShowMeChabad.com/Arch
