[COLlive] National Menorah Lit in DC, Violinist Itzhak Perlman and cantor Itche Meir Helfgot performed.

photos by: Baruch Ezagui

The annual lighting ceremony of the National Menorah took place today in front of the White House in Washington, DC, with thousands attending. Violinist Itzhak Perlman and cantor Itche Meir Helfgot performed.

The annual world-famous lighting ceremony of the National Menorah on The Ellipse in front of the White House took place today in Washington, DC, with thousands attending.

The annual event is sponsored by American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) through its National Menorah Council and is organized by Rabbi Levi Shemtov.

The event featured a special musical performance by violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman and world-renowned cantor Maestro Itche Meir Helfgot with Hankus Netsky.

COLlive.com provided an exclusive live broadcast of the event which featured the lighting of the Menorah by Jack Lew, the White House budget chief, who is the most senior Jewish official in the Obama administration.

The United States Navy Band with Jeff Nadel and the Three Cantors performed special Chanukah selections. Dreidelman and the Maccabees were also on hand for the festivities.

[courtesy of  COLlive.com]