14 | DECEMBER 3 • 2020 

T

his year, the Jewish com-
munity can celebrate 
Chanukah with events 
that promise connection and 
fun while staying safe during 
the pandemic.
For the past 10 years, the 
lighting of a large menorah in 
Downtown Detroit’s Campus 
Martius Park has attracted 
many enthusiastic partici-
pants of all ages. This year, 
Menorah in the D, presented 
by The Shul, ChabaD Greater 
Downtown Detroit and Jewish 
Federation of Metropolitan 
Detroit, will feature its tra-
ditional torch lighting of the 
menorah at 5 p.m. Thursday, 
Dec. 10.
Though Campus Martius is a 

public plaza, organizers are 
encouraging people to watch 
this year’s Menorah in the D 
from home instead of in-per-
son. Greetings from commu-
nity leaders and dignitaries, 
as well as entertainment and 
an after-party, will be live-
streamed. Visit menorahinthed.

com for more information 
and to register for a special 
Menorah in the D box of 
Chanukah-related items.
Bruce Schwartz, the Rock 
Ventures Detroit ambassador 
who has been involved with 
Menorah in the D since its 
inception, says that households 
are encouraged to light their 
Chanukah candles at the same 
time as the lighting Downtown. 
Some in-home lightings will be 
featured on the live video.
This year, NEXTGen Detroit 
and its partners will kick off an 
eight-night online “Light Up 
the Night” celebration. For each 
night after Menorah in the D, 
a local rabbi will lead an online 
candle lighting; on the eighth 
night, a Community Candle 
Lighting will feature represen-
tatives from a range of local 
Jewish organizations.
“NEXTGen Detroit has eight 
glowing nights lined up so we 
can all burn brighter together. 
Every evening, a new special 
guest will join us on Zoom to 

lead us in lighting the menorah 
and bright a unique way to cel-
ebrate the holiday,
” says Tomer 
Moked, director, NEXTGen 
Detroit, a program of the Jewish 
Federation of Metropolitan 
Detroit.
This online event is planned 
for young adults ages 21 to 45. 
Information will be available on 
NEXTGen’s website and through 
social media. Latke Vodka, 
NEXTGen’s usual Chanukah 
event, will not be held this year.
Another popular event, 
Chanukah Wonderland, pre-
sented in the past by Bais 
Chabad Torah Center in West 
Bloomfield, will not be held 
due to COVID-19. However, 
Bais Chabad and JFamily, a 
Jewish Community Center pro-
gram, will present a “Chanukah 
Parade of Light and Love” on 
Sunday, Dec. 13, beginning at 
4 p.m. Participants, some with 
menorahs on their cars, will 
drive around the Jewish Senior 
Life buildings on its West 
Bloomfield campus to entertain 
the senior adults who live there. 
“They have been hit hardest 
by COVID since they can’t have 
guests or congregate. We want 
to bring Chanukah joy and 
light to that community,” said 
Rabbi Shneur Silberberg, out-
reach director at Bais Chabad 
Torah Center. 
After circling Jewish Senior 
Life residences, the car parade 
will travel to the nearby JCC 
West Bloomfield parking lot for 
a video program presented on a 
large outdoor screen. A meno-
rah will be lit, and interactive 
Chanukah games will be offered 
on screen. Chanukah treats will 
be delivered to the cars partici-
pating in the parade.
To register for swag bags for 
participating cars, or to sponsor 
or purchase a menorah for dis-
play during the car parade, visit 
baischabad.com/light. This event 
is free. Children’s Chanukah 
Wonderbags are available for 
purchase on the website. 

Some Detroit traditions move 
forward, but others are shelved.

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Chanukah, 
Safely

ANTHONY LANZILOTE

Menorah lighting 

in prior years
IN 
THED
JEWS

MENORAH 
IN THE D
The JN will be partnering 
with Menorah in the D to 
broadcast the live can-
dlelighting from our web-
site and social media, 
Dec. 10 at 5 p.m. Visit us 
online for more details!

