The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah begins the night of Dec. 7 and lasts for eight days. If you are in the St. Louis area during the holiday, there will likely be a public menorah lighting near you. The St. Louis Chabad centers plan to hold dozens of menorah lightings and Hanukkah events throughout the region.

Details and listings are available at www.ShowMeChabad.com/Chanukah.

Among noteworthy events, there will be a menorah lighting near the Arch – the new Hanukkah display will stand a whopping 29 ft – and on Historic Main Street in St. Charles, just a stone’s throw away from the Missouri River. In Chesterfield, 100 cars, crowned with menorahs, will dot the streets as they parade through the streets. A public lighting will also take place at the Market in the Loop in University City.

The public menorah lightings began in 1973 when the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, launched the Hanukkah campaign, of which St. Louis’ public Hanukkah activities are a part.

“The Rebbe taught that not only is celebrating Hanukkah a vital part of Jewish life, but also represents key American values, namely those of liberty and independence,” said Rabbi Yosef Landa, regional director of Chabad of Greater St. Louis. “Now, more than ever, we need to be sharing the light of Chanukah with our entire St. Louis region.”

In front of the Morris & Ann Lazaroff Chabad Center and Regional Office on Delmar Boulevard will be a 15 ft public menorah display. And in O’Fallon, the local police department will be hosting “Chanukah @ the Police Station.”

A slew of pre-Hanukkah celebrations are also being held in advance of the holiday, including “The Home Depot Chanukah Experience,” St. Louis’ #1 Hanukkah family event, set to take place on Sunday, December 3 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at The Home Depot at 1603 S. Hanley Rd. in Brentwood.