The rabbi, the robot, and the giant menorah (pictures)
Traditional Jewish symbolism gets a sci-fi twist as Isaac the robot helps light a San Francisco public menorah on the seventh night of Hanukkah.
The rabbi, the menorah, and the robot
On Tuesday night in San Francisco's Union Square, beneath the wreath-lit facade of Macy's and amid the crisp cold of holiday cheer, Rabbi Yosef Langer lit up a 22-foot menorah -- with a little help from a robot.
After helping to warm up the crowd with some robot dancing, Isaac was carried to the giant mahogany and steel menorah, built and funded by late rock impresario Bill Graham, and now known as the "Mama Menorah" because of the many other public menorahs it's inspired around the globe.
The 5.5-foot humanoid lit the shamash (the helper flame used to kindle the candelabrum's other lights) on the 3-ton menorah, a fixture at San Francisco's annual public Hanukkah candle lighting since 1975.
In doing so, Isaac, namesake of sci-fi author Isaac Asimov, brought a decidedly geeky gild to the decades-old proceedings.
Rabbi Yosef Langer and robot Isaac
David Calkins' Isaac
Isaac lights the shamash
Mama Menorah
The 3-ton "Mama Menorah," a fixture at San Francisco's annual public Hanukkah candle lighting since 1975.
The Bill Graham Menorah Project is a program of Chabad SF, part of a movement within mainstream Jewish tradition with its roots in the Chassidic movement of the 18th century. Today, more than 3,000 Chabad centers are located in more than 65 countries including South Africa, South America, Russia, Australia, India, the UK, and many parts of the US. They host classes, lectures, and workshops on Jewish topics; religious services; and special events as needed in their community.
In San Francisco in 1975, community leaders joined together to create the first big public menorah and celebration of Chanukah outside of Israel. The San Francisco "Mama Menorah" public celebration has become a global phenomenon with large menorahs lit annually in over 500 cities worldwide.