6-foot-tall menorah stolen from SF’s Washington Square park

Shari Weissner, of North Beach Chabad of San Francisco, lights giant menorah in happier times Shari Weissner, of North Beach Chabad of San Francisco, lights giant menorah in happier times Photo: North Beach Chabad Of San Francisco Photo: North Beach Chabad Of San Francisco Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close 6-foot-tall menorah stolen from SF’s Washington Square park 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The Festival of Lights just got a little darker in San Francisco after someone made off with the giant Hanukkah menorah in Washington Square park.

The 6-foot-tall menorah, or ceremonial candelabrum, which was installed two weeks ago in the northeast corner of the park, was reported stolen on Christmas, shortly before celebrants were scheduled to light the first two of its eight candles to kick off the second night of Hanukkah.

“We didn’t think somebody could make off with something that big,” said Miryum Mochkin, co-director of the North Beach branch of the Jewish group Chabad, which owns the 100-pound menorah and sponsors the celebration.

The theft, Mochkin said, was being regarded by the group as a hate crime even if the bad guy was a metal thief and the motive purely pecuniary.

“At the end of the day, someone that evil, who would target a religious symbol, is a person of darkness,” Mochkin said. “We’re a celebration of light. They’re stuck in a dark place.”

In a statement, San Francisco police said the crime is being investigated by detectives out of Central Station.

“Metal recyclers are asked to be on the lookout for anyone attempting to sell large ... pieces as recycled metal,” said Sgt. Michael Andraychak.

The menorah is made of brass-colored steel, which means that a metal thief hoping to get the $1 per pound that brass fetches from a metal recycler might instead get 5 cents per pound. Unless the recycler recognizes the metal as stolen goods, in which case the thief might get jailed for violating the California penal code equivalent of the Eighth Commandment. Anyone with information about the theft should call the police anonymous tip line at (415) 474-4444.

The menorah is the focal point of the annual Hanukkah holiday, which celebrates the miracle said to have occurred in 165 B.C. in Jerusalem, when one night’s worth of oil somehow lasted for eight nights.

The copped candlestick is not exactly a one-of-a-kind artifact. On the online shopping bazaar Amazon, the identical model of giant menorah was offered for sale Monday for $849.99, plus $41.97 shipping.

“Only 18 left in stock,” the listing said.

The Chabad group is fighting back by reimagining its lighting ceremony. On Monday night, it was organizing a community menorah lighting by urging anyone with a family menorah to bring it to the park. Instead of one large menorah, the group was hoping for dozens or perhaps hundreds of smaller ones, Mochkin said.

And it is adamantly not offering a reward for the giant menorah’s return.

“We don’t pay ransom,” Mochkin said. “We’d rather buy a new one than reward a thief.”

Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SteveRubeSF