World's longest menorah can be found in Clearwater
CLEARWATER (FOX13) - The rabbi of Chabad of Clearwater has built what he believes to be the longest menorah in the world in response to the terrorist attacks in San Bernandino, California.
"The lessons of Hanukkah are eternal," said Rabbi Levi Hodakov. "It is that a little bit of light will dispel a lot of darkness."
On the second night of Hanukkah, Monday, it was lit on Bellaire Rd with tiki torches and lighter fluid.
"Went to Home Depot," said Yanid Tal. "(We) got some three-inch PVC (piping), sliced it, diced it, put it together."
It is 44-feet long, for the 44 total candles that are lit on the eight nights of Hanukkah.
The light, he says, is for all of us to see our way out of San Bernandino, Paris, and beyond our lingering fear.
"What can we do here on a local level to show our sympathy and empathy with all those who were affected by the tragedy in California?"
Hanukkah celebrates the struggle of a small Jewish army over the Greek empire more than 2,000 years ago.
Hanukkah, like war, he says, raises an enduring lesson.
"Properly educate our children in the right way, and teach them that we must love each other," he said. "Take a little bit of light from Clearwater and shine it to all those places around the world."
He can't be positive it is the world's longest menorah, but points out one of the tallest, the 32-foot one in New York City, is only 28 feet wide.
On Tuesday, the third night of Hanukkah, the Chabad of Clearwater is holding the lighting of the "first ever" Marshmallow Menorah.
It will be at 6:00 p.m. at the Beachwalk in front of Surf Style Megastore, 311 S. Gulfview Blvd.