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MusicPop Culture

Sunday Stories: The Rock 'n' Roll Menorah

In 1975, rock ‘n’ roll impresario Bill Graham was approached by local San Francisco community leaders Rabbi Chaim Drizin along with Rabbi Yosef Langer of Chabad and Zev Putterman of KQED to create the first large-scale public menorah-lighting ceremony in the United States. Today, thousands of communities around the world celebrate Hanukkah with a large public menorah, each proudly displaying their local traditions and customs. In this special Sunday Story, travel around the world with us to experience Hanukkah as only Bill Graham could have imagined.

This video was originally published on The CJM's Facebook Live on December 6, 2020.

ABout Sunday Stories

During The CJM's temporary closure, we're providing weekly live video presentations that explore Jewish culture, history, art, and ideas. Sit back, relax, and discover new stories every week!

For more content you can engage with from home, check out our Jewseum from Home  page.

About the Exhibition

Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution, on view at The CJM Mar 17–July 5, 2016, explored the life of Bill Graham (1931–1991) from his childhood as a German Jewish refugee to his pivotal role in making rock music a multi-billion dollar global industry. The exhibition looked at his immense success as a rock promoter and his pioneering work behind the scenes to use rock music to raise consciousness and deliver aid to those in need. Organized by the Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles.

Creative inspiration from Herb Greene's photograph, Bill Graham in front of Hieroglyphic Wall, Haight-Ashbury district, San Francisco, 1966.

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