Thousands gather in DC for National Menorah lighting ceremony

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Thousands gathered in D.C. on Wednesday for the National Menorah lighting ceremony 鈥� an annual event hosted in front of the White House since 1979.

The lighting festivities were held on the first night of Hanukkah, nearly two weeks after residents and out-of-state tourists descended on the nation’s capital to partake in the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony. The 30-foot menorah sits just a few feet from the festive tree.

Among the speakers at the event was Rabbi Levi Shemtov, who serves as the executive vice president of American Friends of Lubavitch.

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Shemtov had imposed on the crowd the importance of combating antisemitism.

“When we become stronger in who we are, we are better assured of our continued survival,” he said.

The creators behind this year’s menorah were the Kilsheimers, a Maryland family that works out of a large warehouse in Capitol Heights. The menorah they were able to produce was fitted with low voltage LED lights and constructed out of recycled aluminum.

鈥淯ntil the day my grandfather died, he had his fingers in it. He was passionate about it,鈥� Casey Kilsheimer told 草莓传媒 of her grandfather, who started the family specialty business in 1947. 鈥淢y dad is passionate about it. We鈥檙e here, and all these people here are passionate about it. It hits home.鈥�

Gunther Kilsheimer began building menorahs after being given the task by a rabbi. The goal had been to build the largest menorah in the U.S.

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A girl plays with dreidels among a boxed of Hanukkah menorahs during the lighting of the National Hanukkah Menorah, an event sponsored by the American Friends of Lubavitch, on The Ellipse in Washington marking the first night of Hanukkah, in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, center, takes the stage to speak during the lighting of the National Hanukkah Menorah, an event sponsored by the American Friends of Lubavitch, on The Ellipse in Washington marking the first night of Hanukkah, in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. The eight-day Jewish holiday began at sundown and coincided with Christmas Day. At center the National Christmas Tree is also visible, with the White House at left. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, top left, with others including Rabbi Levi Shemtov and Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, light the National Menorah in celebration of the first night of Hanukkah, during an event sponsored by the American Friends of Lubavitch, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, on The Ellipse in Washington. The eight-day Jewish holiday began at sundown and this year coincided with Christmas Day. At right the National Christmas Tree is also visible, with the White House at left. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, top left, with others including Rabbi Abraham Shemtov and Rabbi Levi Shemtov, light the National Menorah in celebration of the first night of Hanukkah, during an event sponsored by the American Friends of Lubavitch, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, on The Ellipse in Washington. The eight-day Jewish holiday began at sundown and this year coincided with Christmas Day. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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People leave the National Menorah Lighting, an event sponsored by the American Friends of Lubavitch, on The Ellipse in Washington, on the first night of Hanukkah, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. The eight-day Jewish holiday began at sundown and coincided this year with Christmas Day. At center is the White House, with the National Christmas Tree at right. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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Gaby Arancibia

Gaby comes to 草莓传媒 from Sputnik 草莓传媒 where she spent the last eight years working her way up from social media manager to writer, and then senior editor.