Chanakuh on Union Square
Well although I'm not much of a religious person, I have over the years admired the Jewish faith. It's not so much the religious part of it I guess, as much as the tradition part of it and the strong sense of community and culture that the religion fosters. Without getting into the politics of Judaism, I've always admired the rich sense of family and closeness that the religion seems to embrace. When I was growing up as a kid my father had a deep sense of respect for the Jews. Perhaps this is where my respect for the religion is rooted. Although my dad was a Christian and not a Jew, he had many close friends that were Jews and we even celebrated Passover a few times at our home when he had some of his Jewish friends over. Even this Christmas I still sensed my father's respect for the Jewish customs and traditions when he lit a menorah in our family home.
I'm nowhere near as religious as my father, in fact not religious at all, but I did enjoy watching the lighting of the menorah in Union Square earlier this evening. Apparently they have been lighting the menorah in Union Square since 1975. Legendary rock promoter Bill Graham was a force behind this and despite the religious tones of the ceremony in the public space, it has gone on now for over 30 years. The Rabbi who spoke tonight reflected back on Bill Graham and his contributions to the Union Square lighting. He talked about Bill also being involved with a psychedelic Christmas Tree one year. He remembered a solitary word that Bill Graham spoke to him when he was asked why the ceremony was so important to him. That single word was survival.
The ceremony was a moving tribute and it is nice to see that here in San Francisco in 2005 you can still spend a few minutes in the early evening with strangers and observe this public event even as an outsider. Here is another account from years past that I found on the ceremony. I've got a short set up on Flickr of tonight's lighting.
Merry Christmas and a Happy Chanukah to all.
Comments and faves
Ron Diorio, Pig Sty Avenue, MykReeve, shutupyourface, and 136 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Mary Savvidou ♥ (78 months ago | reply)
very nice :)
have a beautiful holiday
CCCvrcak (78 months ago | reply)
amazing photo and a story!
junglecatwoman (78 months ago | reply)
wow! very interestin pic n story! :)
bahamasoct2005 (78 months ago | reply)
Beautiful shot!
Bill in DC (78 months ago | reply)
Fabulous photograph. Excellent story.
btezra [deleted] (78 months ago | reply)
~ahhhh, Bill Graham, patron saint of the Grateful Dead...RIP~
Mark Griffith (78 months ago | reply)
Great shot!
torbakhopper (78 months ago | reply)
when photos and text work together, flickr means the most to me!!!!
thank you
Cilest (78 months ago | reply)
amazing photo. the lighting is perfect.
Spacecake (78 months ago | reply)
A very moving image indeed.
niklens (78 months ago | reply)
great shot....!
Skinnyde (78 months ago | reply)
A wonderful shot and dialogue too.
- Dave - (78 months ago | reply)
Wonderful composition and light. You truly captured the moment.
*Ivan* (78 months ago | reply)
bravo, thomas, great shot
deborah d. lattimore (78 months ago | reply)
fantastic photo
italolemus (78 months ago | reply)
it is a beautiful group of photos. the passion behind the eye is incredible. congratulations friend
regards
elvispo
italo.lemus@gmail.com
... Arjun (78 months ago | reply)
This is a great capture. Have a super holiday season.
cienne45 (78 months ago | reply)
Very interesting group of compositions!
Very beautiful light. Intensive atmosphere.
WOW!!!
sparty lea (78 months ago | reply)
This ones great.
guldfisken (78 months ago | reply)
Great shot, very atmospheric! Might I suggest that you add this picture, and any others if you wish, to the Holy Days group? We're sort of stuck with Christmas at the moment, and I would really like to have a bit more cultural diversity in the pool :)
Thomas Hawk (78 months ago | reply)
Thanks, just added it to Holy Days.
smoothdude (78 months ago | reply)
great words TH and great picture as well. Nicely captured.
Joanie-21 (78 months ago | reply)
Truly moving commentary for a beautiful shot.
sani03 (77 months ago | reply)
a great , dignity picture ,taken at a great silent moment -very impressive !
~Kenny (76 months ago | reply)
This is a wonderful shot, Thomas! Excellent composition and timing. And a great story with it too.
Norma Desmond (76 months ago | reply)
spiritual...
Doubletee (74 months ago | reply)
I definitely aspire to take photos of this quality someday! Nice work.
The World Through My Eyes
Mike Lewis 85719 (67 months ago | reply)
Thank you for posting these beautiful shots and the kind comments about my faith. More wisdom as yours and your father's would make this a better world.
~aga.w~ (65 months ago | reply)
nice shot
@n@bou [deleted] (62 months ago | reply)
Very nice moment and great text. You're right on every word you say.
lol
saul.davis (61 months ago | reply)
Send this to the group called Top 20 Jewish, we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
rosewithoutathorn84 (58 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Jewish History - Ancient and Modern, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
sgdman12 (55 months ago | reply)
Happy Chanukah. Great shot.
saul.davis (52 months ago | reply)
RITEs
...your AMAZING pic
presents interesting
RITEs,
and deserves an AWARD!!! .
El-Branden Brazil (43 months ago | reply)
Hi!
I am the staff photographer for Monks Without Borders, and we are putting together a book for the organisation to raise funds. I love this image and would very much like to submit it for consideration.
If you are interested, please contact me by sending an e-mail to my Flickr account for more information.
Best wishes,
El-Branden Brazil
BBC Around The World In 80 Faiths (42 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called BBC Around The World In 80 Faiths, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
giordanoAdigiuno (38 months ago | reply)
good click man.!
sgbaughn (37 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called LMN8R - Theme of "The Living Face", and we'd love to have this added to the group!
hector sunshine (35 months ago | reply)
very cinematic, very real
7x7 Magazine (33 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called 7x7 Holiday, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Ѕhims (30 months ago | reply)
Somehow I wish this was more powerful then what's here
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Troy Holden (30 months ago | reply)
captures the feeling of the holidays.
-Voted 'save' (by the Delete Me Uncensored Group) using csratr
DEARTH ! (30 months ago | reply)
what shims said
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rhys logan (30 months ago | reply)
yeah, a bit gray, maybe get tighter, cool idea though
delete
smoothdude (30 months ago | reply)
you're all nuts this is great
save
!STORAX (30 months ago | reply)
Nice available-light moment
Save
Benjamin Heath [deleted] (30 months ago | reply)
The DOF works well to bring me eye to the lighting of the candles. Excellent.
save
Benjamin Heath [deleted] (30 months ago | reply)
bring *my* eye. I am not a pirate.
Kubuś! (30 months ago | reply)
Fine photo! I think, you may turn the temperature littlebit lower, but it's okay.
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luxx11 (30 months ago | reply)
not really doing it for me, I think more fire and less arms would be better, also that green spot attracts too much attention
delete