World’s First Starbucks Menorah

A crowd of over 200 gathered at the Crossroads shopping center in Bellevue, Washington, to witness the lighting of the world’s first Menorah built with Starbucks cups.

“We are always trying to come up with new ideas that will capture the attention of the Jewish community,” said Chabad Rabbi Sholom Ber Elishevitz who, with his wife Chaya, came up with an idea to celebrate Chanukah “with a taste of Seattle.”

Howard Schultz, the Jewish chairman and CEO of the Seattle based coffee company Starbucks, was invited to light the unique caffein-oriented Menorah.

“Unfortunately he wasn’t able to make it,” Rabbi Elishevitz told COLlive.com.

Instead, Rabbi Mordechai Farkash, director of Chabad Eastside Torah Center in Bellevue, spoke about the significance of Chanukah and lit the ‘Starbucks Menorah’.

A choice of free regular and decaffeinated Starbucks coffee was offered to participatns.

Students choir of the Chabad Hebrew School, directed by Rochie Farkash, entertained the crowd. Ben Gown played Chanukah songs on the Accordion and Max Levin, a local Jewish teen beautifully played the Saxophone.