London – What is thought to be the world’s first ever ‘whisky menorah’ was unveiled this evening (Sunday) to mark the Jewish festival of lights.
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Dozens of people turned out at Buckhurst Hill Chabad, in Princes Road, to see the seven-foot-high ceremonial candle holder – made of clear pipes – filled with 65 litres of 17-year-old Scottish single malt in celebration of Chanukah.
Whisky from the menorah was then poured from a tap in the structure’s stem and auctioned off in bottles by Rabbi Odom Brandman to raise money for a new centre for the area’s Jewish community.
Rabbi Brandman – who had earlier led the lighting of a publically displayed menorah in nearby Queen’s Road – thanked distillary firm Tullibardine for donating the whisky.
He said: “We like to celebrate Chanukah a little differently, and had a menorah made of old cans last year, and out of chocolate the year before.
This year we decided to go for the world’s first whisky menorah.
“We knew we needed a lot of whisky, so we contacted distillers Tullibardine who very kindly offered to donate 65 litres for our menorah. “The whisky itself is really nice. It’s smooth, mellow and has a slightly fruity flavour.
“I have been on a tour of the distillery and the management there have been so helpful, accommodating and as excited as us about making this Menorah really special.”
Chanukah is an eight-day holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
Rabbi Brandman’s cousin, PC Jonathan Brandman – who was one of the officers on duty at the event – was asked to light one of the candles on the Queen’s Road menorah.
He said: “I wasn’t expecting to be asked to be honest. “It is good to see so many people here enjoying themselves.”
GOYISHKEIT. Hashem Yishmorainu from this.
I’m personally a Glenlivet and Laphroaig fan, but if Tullibardine is aged in kosher casks, let’s give them some extra business for supporting Chanukah.
B”H for lubavitch!!! moron ahhh the glass isn’t kosher now???
where r the guys that will bash chabad for chilul hashem…baal tashchis.hey, if this will get even one person to light a menora then its worth it. and that is what chabad is all about…a little more light to fight this golus…
Funny That Thru Out Our History Noone Ever Heard Of Lighting In The Town Square . .
sooooooooo not our way
I’m going to contact the folks at Tullibardine to see if they will donate 65 litres to my shul for a menorah for Chanukah, a fruit bowl for Tu B’shvat, a grogger for Purim,a siyum for Shavous, a succah for Succos, a seuda for Simchas Torah. The 390 requested liters would keep my shul happy for a whole year.
although I am a chabadnik, I do not know how theHanholo in London allowed this type of Menorah….Whiskey ?? what connection is that with the ness of Channukah ??
Also, do you know how many yungerliet have become alcoholics due to the culture of drinking in the Yeshivos. Don’t think that even as a fund raiser, this was a good idea.
the internet is also goyishkeit
OK, so now that we have a whiskey Menorah, all is right with the world. This is just what we all need.
shouldn’t it have been vodka!
wait a second, we ARE celebrating Chanuka now, not Purim???
some of you should have a drink before making your foolish comments, it might help! there is nothing wrong al pi halacha nor al pi hashkafa nor al pi anything its a smart stunt for a fundraiser and is mosif simcha. yashar koach!
chazak veematz! you guys commenting sound sooooooooo jealous……………………………..
BS”D Sounds like Channuka and Purim are sharing the bill there this year. 🙂
I thought they were lighting up on whisky instead of oil, alchohol burns. I thought that was rather expensive, I am not sure if it counts as Kol hashmonin Vehapesilos.
Whiskey is the common drink there. So why not do this? I think it is a creative way to raise money and get people involved. Why make it into something negative?
Now, hopefully, there’ll be a neis with this menorah as swell, and the whisky will be poring out till next chanukah!
sort of sums up modern day chabad – self-promotion and booze
This is wrong. What does it say to our children when they see a k’lay lodesh turned into a shnapps dispenser? What message does it convey to the gentiles about how we view our faith? I am shocked.
His name should be Brandyman or Ish-Brandy or Odom-Brandy. Well Great Scot! I never…
Frankly, I am now wondering how many Gentiles will pick up a bottle from it? I know I would, particularly as it is going to charity. To me, it would be a nice thing to add to my collection of single-malts.