2025 Lighting of the World's Largest Menorah
Everyone is welcome at the annual menorah lighting in Manhattan!
Experience the world's largest menorah lighting on each of Hanukkah's eight days, featuring nightly menorah lightings, free treats like latkes and doughnuts, and festive celebrations throughout Hanukkah.
This event takes place at the southeast corner of Central Park, at Grand Army Plaza, next to the Pulitzer Fountain and across from the famous Plaza Hotel.
The menorah is certified by Guinness World Records as the world's largest, standing about 32–36 feet tall and weighing roughly 4,000 pounds. It was designed by Israeli artist Yaacov Agam and inspired by the Rambam’s (Maimonides’) drawing of the Temple menorah from the Beis Hamikdash.
Lighting Schedule
Lighting times follow the Hanukkah calendar, with a lighting each night of the holiday; the first night typically features a larger ceremony with dignitaries and increased media presence.
The menorah will be assembled at the plaza on Wednesday, December 10th at 8 AM.
Full lighting schedule:
- December 14th: 5:30 pm
- December 15th: 5:30 pm
- December 16th: 5:30 pm
- December 17th: 5:30 pm
- December 18th: 5:30 pm
- December 19th: 3:45 pm
- December 20th: 8:30 pm
- December 21st: 5:30 pm
The event is free and open to the public. No tickets are required.
About the Event
The event, organized by the Lubavitch Youth Organization, part of the Chabad‑Lubavitch movement, has been a New York City tradition since 1977 and is one expression of a global Chabad initiative that now sets up more than 15,000 public menorahs in cities across over 100 countries. The annual lighting celebrates Jewish pride, religious freedom, and a message of hope, faith, and spiritual light, with the NYC menorah described as a universal symbol of liberty and human dignity rather than only a Jewish emblem. It serves as a public affirmation that all communities have a place in the city and that “light over darkness” is a shared cultural value.
Hanukkah itself marks the successful revolt of the Maccabees against the Seleucid (Syrian‑Greek) empire and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, remembered today as both a military and spiritual victory for Jewish religious freedom. The holiday also commemorates the miracle that when the Maccabees reclaimed and purified the desecrated Temple and lit the menorah, a single day’s supply of pure oil is said to have lasted eight days—long enough to prepare more oil and restore regular worship.
