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