JANUARY 4 • 2024 | 19
A
dazzling demonstration
of unity unfolded as the
vibrant community of Genesee
County came together with their
Jewish brethren for an unforget-
table Chanukah extravaganza,
orchestrated by Chabad of Eastern
Michigan.
Held at Shea Automotive in
Flint on Dec. 7, the event fea-
tured a towering 22-foot public
Chanukah menorah.
In a show of solidarity, influen-
tial community figures, including
Michigan Supreme Court Justice
Richard Bernstein and Genesee
County Prosecutor David Leyton,
joined Sheriff Chris Swanson in
attending the celebration.
Each participant proudly wore
a chest sticker proclaiming them
an “
Ambassador of Light,
” sym-
bolizing the night’s theme — a call
for everyone to spread light, hope
and love.
The evening boasted family
fun, delectable traditional holiday
foods and a heartwarming gesture
of goodwill — complimentary
Chanukah menorahs and candles
for participants to take home.
This public Chanukah cel-
ebration served as a powerful
response to the alarming surge
in antisemitic rhetoric. Rabbi
Israel Weingarten, co-director of
Chabad of Eastern Michigan, said,
“Our response to hatred must
never be to cower; instead, we
shine brighter. Chanukah teaches
us the power of light to overcome
darkness, and there’s no better
response to negativity than gath-
ering in even greater numbers to
celebrate the menorah’s light in
public.
”
Bernstein addressed the crowd,
invoking the spirit of the mod-
ern-day Maccabees, saying, “We
are the modern-day Maccabees,
and this celebration is our hope.
Just as the Maccabees triumphed
over oppression, we, too, can tri-
umph over hate and stand united
in the light of freedom and jus-
tice.
”
This celebration echoed a global
Chanukah awareness campaign
initiated by Rabbi Menachem M.
Schneerson in 1973, marking 50
years of spreading light.
Spectacular Chanukah celebration marks
50 years since global campaign inception.
Genesee County Shines
as ‘Ambassadors of Light’
JN STAFF
F
orty years ago this year, Detroit
native Jerry Lewis, a diehard
Tiger fan and local manufacturer’s
representative for a clothing line,
learned that the Chicago Cubs were
hosting a fantasy camp for fans
to play baseball with their former
heroes. Intrigued with the concept,
Lewis contacted former 1968 Tiger
Jim Price, and the two created a
Detroit Tigers Fantasy Camp in
Lakeland, Florida, in the spring of
1984.
The camps soon became an
instant hit with participants ranging
from auto executives, a priest and
journalists to blue-collar workers
who were able to live the dream and
wear the old English D under the
watchful eyes of their coaches who
included former Tiger stars.
After Lewis’ camp garnered
national attention, nearly every
team in Major League Baseball
started its own.
This winter, the Tigers are not
holding a fantasy camp, and so
Lewis, who left the organization
three years ago, is hosting his
third annual “Baseball Legends
Fantasy Camp” Jan. 15-21 at the
historic Jackie Robinson Complex
in Vero Beach, Florida, the former
spring training home of the Los
Angeles Dodgers.
Each day of the camp starts
with “live” batting practice thrown
by a former major league pitcher
while ex-Tigers Frank Tanana,
Howard Johnson, Joel Zumaya,
Jon Warden, Juan Berenguer,
Doug Bair, Milt Cuyler and Rusty
Meacham will serve as coaches for
the campers who play two games
a day during the week.
Each camper receives home
and away MLB uniforms that are
cleaned daily in the clubhouse.
Other former players not yet
announced will appear as guests
during the week. Cost of the
camp at $4,300 includes first-class
accommodations, three meals
a day, uniforms, a large major
league clubhouse, access to an
Olympic-sized swimming pool
and other recreational opportu-
nities.
For more information, contact
Jerry Lewis at (248) 821-0635 or
jerrylewis1968@yahoo.com.
Baseball
Legends
Fantasy
Camp
JN STAFF
LEFT:
Jerry Lewis and
Howard Johnson