46 | DECEMBER 10 • 2020 

Looking Back

Chag Sameach!
F

or me, writing about the history of 
Detroit’s Jewish community usually 
means finding stories from 20, 30, 50 
or 100 years ago in the William Davidson 
Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History. 
However, there really is no set time limit 
for when an event, place or person becomes 
important history. Here is a case-in-point 
for Chanukah 2020.
This year marks an 
anniversary for a more 
recent, yet historic, event in 
Detroit: “Menorah in the D.” 
For the 10th time, a 26-foot 
tall menorah will be lit in 
Campus Martius/Cadillac 
Square in Downtown Detroit 
to celebrate Chanukah. In 
the midst of the COVID-19 
pandemic, this year will be a bit different; 
the lighting ceremony on Dec. 10 will be a 
virtual affair. 
First held in 2011, Menorah in the D 
was a collaboration of The Shul of West 
Bloomfield with the Chabad-Lubavitch 
Foundation of Michigan and Jewish 
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit’s 
CommunityNEXT (now, the Jewish 
Federation of Metro Detroit’s NEXTGen 
Detroit Division). Along with Chabad 
of Greater Downtown Detroit, the 
Shul-Chabad Lubavitch and the Jewish 
Federation are still the partners and 
organizers for the event. There have also 
been a host of community supporters over 
the years.
The original and primary intent of 
Menorah in the D was to create an event 
that brought Jews together for a show of 
unity and as a source of inspiration. In this, 
it has been a great success. As Rabbi Kasriel 
Shemtov of The Shul in West Bloomfield 
said in Stefani Chudnow’s report in the 
Dec. 19, 2019, of the JN, “People from 
all walks of life come together to launch 
Chanukah for the city of Detroit and ignite 
a flame that brings warmth and light to 
the hearts of so many … For the Jewish 

community, it’s a moment of inspiration 
and pride.” 
When Menorah in the D was first held, 
an estimated 600 people attended. The 
audience grew to 1,500 the next year and 
to 3,000 by its fifth year. With the inclusion 
of such activities as crafts, LEGOs, a zip 
line and face painting, Menorah in the D 
also became a family-friendly event. And, 
along with Rabbi Shemtov, the event has 
featured local luminaries such as Detroit 
Mayor Mike Duggan, Rabbi Yisrael Pinson, 
Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard 
Bernstein, and other Jewish and non-
Jewish speakers.
Since 2012, the ceremony highlight is the 
lighting of a 26-foot-tall menorah, designed 
and built by the Nordin Brothers, Erik and 
Israel. There is a good story in the Dec. 15, 
2016, issue of the JN about their artistry.
I found other interesting stories about 
Menorah in the D. In the Nov. 19, 2015, 
JN, there is a story about the event leading 
to the first Jewish-themed Detroit Red 
Wings game. In an excellent Sept. 9, 2017, 
article about the work of Sarah and Benji 
Rosenzweig, the origins of Menorah in 
the D are discussed by Benji. Finally, there 
is a bitter-sweet report about the 2018 event 
that commemorated the victims of the 
Pittsburgh Tree of Life shooting, as well as 
honored “8 in their ’8s” 
like 8-year old Ariella 
Bednarsh and 98-year-
old Martin Abel.
I really hope that 
90 years from now, 
someone will write 
about the 100-year 
anniversary of 
Menorah in the D. 
Happy Chanukah! 

Want to learn more? Go 

to the DJN Foundation 

archives, available 

for free at www.

djnfoundation.org.

community, it’s a moment of inspiration 

When Menorah in the D was first held, 

audience grew to 1,500 the next year and 
to 3,000 by its fifth year. With the inclusion 

line and face painting, Menorah in the D 
also became a family-friendly event. And, 
along with Rabbi Shemtov, the event has 
featured local luminaries such as Detroit 
Mayor Mike Duggan, Rabbi Yisrael Pinson, 
Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard 

Mike Smith
Alene and 
Graham Landau 
Archivist Chair

From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History

accessible at www.djnfoundation.org

Since 2012, the ceremony highlight is the 

lighting of a 26-foot-tall menorah, designed 
and built by the Nordin Brothers, Erik and 
Israel. There is a good story in the Dec. 15, 

, there is a story about the event leading 

Wings game. In an excellent Sept. 9, 2017, 

the D are discussed by Benji. Finally, there 
is a bitter-sweet report about the 2018 event 

Mayor Mike Duggan, Rabbi Yisrael Pinson, 

honored “8 in their ’8s” 
like 8-year old Ariella 
Bednarsh and 98-year-

Go 

