22 | DECEMBER 1 • 2022 

H

ead to Campus Martius Sunday, 
Dec. 18, at 5 p.m. for the 12th 
annual Menorah in the D, a com-
munity Chanukah celebration. 
This year’s event, like 2021, will be 
hybrid — with both in-person and live-
stream components. The in-person event 
begins at 5 p.m. and the livestream begins 
at 5:30, airing on the Chabad Lubavitch 
of Michigan Facebook and website. The 
event is in partnership with Chabad 
Lubavitch of Michigan, Jewish Federation of 
Metropolitan Detroit, The Shul and Chabad 
in the D, along with others mentioned on 
the website.
Thousands of people gather in 
Downtown Detroit for the festivities and 
the lighting of the massive 26-foot menorah 
each year. The one-of-a-kind, steel-and-
glass menorah was designed by renowned 
local artists Erik and Israel Nordin of the 
Detroit Design Center in Corktown. 
Viewers in-person and virtually will be 
greeted by community leaders and digni-
taries and the significant torch ceremony 
with honorees from Detroit and around 
the world. Community leaders being hon-
ored as the menorah lamplighters will be 

announced closer to the event.
As in years past, Menorah in the D will 
feature a family-friendly celebration that’s 
free and open to the public, featuring stroll-
ing street performers, face painting, balloon 
sculpting, a fire show, marshmallow roast-
ing pits, hot soup and cider, glow-in-the-
dark giveaways, mitzvah station and more.
After two COVID years of the event, 
Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, vice president of 
Chabad Lubavitch of Michigan, is excited 
for the event to be going “full-out” again. 
Shemtov says a unique thing this year, 
partially because of the virtual production 
of the event due to COVID, is that there’s 
been interest from Jews around the state, 
not just in Metropolitan Detroit.
“It’s a moment of light and hope and we 
want to not only keep it for the people of 
Detroit but to involve the entire state of 
Michigan, including the rural areas, people 
that can’t make it to Jewish events; they 
should be able to see it in their home and 
in their communities,
” he said. “Now, as 
a program you can see virtually as well, it 
allows us to expand our reach. That’s the 
theme of the year — bring greater unity and 
community.
” 

Shemtov says this year’s event is not only 
about coming back together after COVID, 
but also about utilizing the silver lining of 
the COVID era because of the challenge of 
coming together. 
“We now have 25,000 people coming 
together to be a part of this instead of the 
thousands we had before,
” Rabbi Shemtov 
said. “It’s all a part of the message of 
Chanukah. You always have to look for all 
opportunities to bring light and hope. It’s a 
day for the celebration of the Jewish com-
munity, of Chanukah, of the city of Detroit, 
of the state of Michigan and all of us.
” 

To RSVP for the in-person event, reserve your spot in 

the exclusive Zoom party and/or reserve an at-home 

lamplighter kit, visit www.menorahinthed.com. For 

additional questions: info@menorahinthed.com. 

OUR COMMUNITY

Scene from last 
year’s Menorah 
in the D

PHOTOS BY NATHAN VICAR

Menorah in the D takes place Dec. 18
at Campus Martius.
Let’s Light the Lamp!

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

SUB DEPARTMENT

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Nominations for The Detroit Jewish News’ annual 36 under 36 are now open to recognize 

doers, activists, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, community organizers and other young Jewish 

professionals reshaping and broadening Metro Detroit’s Jewish community.

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Nominations Now Open!

