28 | NOVEMBER 30 • 2023
J
N
I
t is time to come together
and celebrate Chanukah and
Jewish pride like never before
with Detroit Pistons Jewish
Heritage Night.
“The Chanukah lights that
we light at night emphasize our
ability to transform the darkness
around us. Especially now, when
we see the ugly face of darkness all
around us, it’s even more import-
ant to come together in unity and
celebrate the fact that light will
always defeat darkness,
” said Rabbi
Yishai Eliefja of The Shul-Chabad
Lubavitch in West Bloomfield.
Echoing the urgency of this
moment in time for light and
community, Rabbi Yisrael Pinson
of Chabad Greater Downtown
Detroit said, “There is unprec-
edented awakening among the
Jewish people from all walks of
life. The events of Oct. 7 have
shaken us to the core, and each of
us is looking for ways to connect
to our community, to our own
Jewish identity.
”
On Dec. 13, the Detroit Pistons
welcome the Jewish commu-
nity to the third annual Jewish
Heritage Night at Little Caesars
Arena. In addition to seeing
the Detroit Pistons school the
Philadelphia 76ers, guests will get
to celebrate the seventh night of
Chanukah like never before.
During halftime, guests will be
part of the lighting of a very spe-
cial basketball menorah built by
Chabad Lubavitch of Michigan
just for this occasion. This will
be the first ever public menorah
lighting at a Detroit Pistons game.
“We are honoring the 2023
Jewish News Class of 36 under 36
on the court prior to the game,
”
said Nikki Wald, Detroit Pistons
group sales executive and herself
an awardee.
“We are also having members
of our Jewish youth high-five the
players as they enter the court
and stand in front of them during
the National Anthem,
” she added.
Additional highlights of the
night include a chance to meet
Ryan Turell, Motor City Cruise
forward and graduate of Yeshiva
University.
Guests will receive com-
plimentary tickets to the Feb.
13 Motor City Cruise Jewish
Heritage Night game. “Students
from Temple Beth El and Adat
Shalom will also be singing the
national anthem for the Motor
City Cruise Jewish Heritage
night,
” Wald said.
Swag for guests includes a
limited-edition Jewish Heritage
Night beanie. Kosher food will be
available as well.
Rabbi Eliefja spoke further
on the power of light. “Even a
small candle has the power to
chase away tremendous dark-
ness, all the more so when the
entire Jewish community comes
together to celebrate the Festival
of Lights.
”
Rabbi Pinson added, “Jewish
Heritage Night at the Pistons
is an excellent opportunity to
activate this burning desire of
connection and celebrate the
resilience of the Jewish people
together.
”
Learn more at Pistons.com/JewishHeritage.
For any special seat requests and
accommodation needs, reach out to Nikki
Wald at (313) 771-0189.
Detroit Pistons Host
Jewish Heritage Night
Show your pride Dec. 13 at Little Caesars Arena.
YEVGENIYA GAZMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A basketball
menorah
Details
What: Detroit Pistons Jewish
Heritage Night
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 13
Time: 5:30 p.m.: Festivities begin;
7 p.m.: Game time
Where: Little Caesars Arena,
2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit
JEWISH HERITAGE NIGHT
TICKETS
STARTING AT $29
VS.
WED. DEC. 13 | 7 PM
Festivities begin at 5:30
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
▪ Pistons Game Ticket
▪ FIRST EVER PUBLIC Menorah Lighting During Halftime
▪ Motor City Cruise Jewish Heritage Night Ticket
▪ Post-Game Free Throw on the Court
▪ Jewish Heritage Night Beanie
▪ Kosher Food