On the occasion of Hanukkah, one family is celebrating in an extravagant manner.
On the 25th of December, Sammi Farber entered the home of her parents on Long Island, New York, where she was spending the first night of Hanukkah with her family. On the other hand, as she was making her way to the fireplace to set her presents down, she saw something that drew her attention. There, in front of her, stood a menorah that was eight feet tall and sparkled blue.
When Farber was a child, she shared with PEOPLE that her family always spent Hanukkah at the home of her grandparents, which was located in the hills of New York. She describes her grandmother as a creative person who was also a dress designer. She enjoyed selecting one-of-a-kind themes for the Hanukkah festivities that they had every year.
“Although she always wanted a tree, my grandfather wasn’t into it, so she found other ways to decorate with festive flair,” Farber, who is 31, points out. “When my grandmother passed away two years ago, those beloved celebrations came to an end.”
“This year, my mom decided to take on that role and bring the joy back into our home,” she continues to explain. “She wanted to decorate in a manner that encapsulated the same joyous spirit, not as a means of making a religious statement but rather as a means of bringing pleasure to others. She found the blue and white ‘Hanukkah trees’ to be too forced, so she came up with something original: a symbolic centerpiece that was inspired by our holiday customs.
Farber continues by saying, “She kept it a complete surprise from us to.”
Farber claims that her parents, Michelle and Scott, who are also event planners, collaborated on the project in order to make the menorah.
“My mom is usually the visionary, and my dad brings her ideas to life,” adds Farber in his statement. When it came to this project, my mother was quite specific about what she desired, and my father was able to make it happen in a matter of days. The three PVC pipes, each measuring ten feet in length, were bought by him, and then they were joined using angled joints. PVC adhesive was used to fix the structure, and he created a menorah that had a base and top that could be removed in order to make it more compact and manageable.
“He even designed it to hold real candles, which was especially meaningful since lighting the flames is central to the symbolism of Hanukkah,” according to the artist. “The result was not only functional but stunning.”
Farber was completely awestruck when he first laid eyes on the menorah because of how inventive, humorous, and one-of-a-kind it was. The very first thing that sprang to her mind was, “I just wish that everyone could have one of these!”
In addition, she says, “It felt so special.” In addition to that, it provided me with the opportunity to hang decorations, which I had always enjoyed but didn’t have a cause to purchase. The menorah that we have is definitely something wonderful, and it has a great deal of significance for us.
Farber was aware that other Jews would also be motivated by the work that her parents had made, and as a result, she made the decision to upload a video about it on TikTok. It gained approximately 330,000 views after becoming popular on the internet.
“My parents were completely shocked at how quickly it gained attention,” according to her statement. “My father even questioned whether or not anybody would be interested, and I assured him that everyone would eagerly want their very own. Obviously, I ought to have placed a wager on him on it!
“I was thrilled to see so many people excited about it, but I also felt a little disheartened by comments like ‘just get a tree,'” she continues to explain. “It’s not about wanting a tree — it’s about celebrating our own traditions and finding joy in new ways.”
She continues by saying, “This menorah is a symbol of creativity, tradition, and a way to preserve our heritage.” In particular, given the current state of affairs, it is of the utmost need to acknowledge and promote the splendor of our religious and cultural traditions.
Farber adds that her parents are already aware of what they are going to do with the life-size menorah after the Hanukkah holiday, which lasts for eight nights, is done.
What Farber has to say about her mother is that she intends to adhere to the same timeframe that others use for Christmas decorations. Following the conclusion of the Thanksgiving holiday, the menorah will be lit, and it will be lit until the New Year’s holiday. She will light it every night throughout Hanukkah, in addition to the menorahs that we have always lit.
“It’s such a fun and meaningful alternative to the generic Hanukkah decor that often feels repetitive and uninspired,” she explains further. “It’s time for Hanukkah decorations to get as trendy and exciting as Christmas decor!”
