24 | DECEMBER 19 • 2024
J
N

D

anielle DePriest and her
husband, Matt Newman, are
looking forward to taking their
son Max Newman, 2, and daughter
Shira Newman, 6 months, to celebrate
Chanukah Downtown this year. They’ll
light the menorah at home as well and
have a family Chanukah party; but
the public menorah lighting event,
Menorah in the D, is a chance to gather
as a community and open dialogue
with the broader community about the
holiday, she says.
Having been to Menorah in the D a
number of times, she says she’s excited
to again have the opportunity to cele-
brate Chanukah downtown with her
kids in such a festive environment.
“The message of lighting the menorah
and bringing more light into the world
is something I really want my children
to understand,
” she says.
Gathering as a community is also
important, she adds. “I think that now
more than ever, it’s really important
that we have an opportunity on a public
stage, a public platform where other
holidays are being honored downtown.

It’s equally important that we show a
menorah Downtown and not shirk
away from our Jewish pride.
”
This year’s theme, Dare to Be the
Light, feels especially powerful, says
Itty Shemtov, director of education and
programming at The Shul, one of the
partners in hosting the Dec. 25 Chabad
Lubavitch of Michigan event, along
with Jewish Federation of Detroit and
Chabad of Greater Downtown Detroit.
“Over the past 423 days, we’ve wit-
nessed moments when lights dimmed
— but even more incredible were the
times when people chose to shine
brighter than ever,
” she says.
Menorah in the D, set to feature live
music, crafts and entertainment —
including comedian/rapper Kosha Dillz
— is about more than lighting candles,
she says. “It’s about bringing our com-
munity’s lights together, sharing those
stories and challenging all of us to dare
to be the light all year long.
”
Benji Rosenzweig of West Bloomfield
has helped organize Menorah in the D
since the event began 14 years ago. A
commercial real estate broker who has

dabbled in music and event produc-
tion, says he enjoys attending the event,
which, he adds, is the largest annual
gathering of Jews in Metro Detroit. “I
find Menorah in the D to be very inspi-
rational and uplifting. I think getting
that many people together at once to
just show Jewish pride, joy and happi-
ness, I think that’s a beautiful thing.
”
Having such a public event where
Jews are able to celebrate with meno-
rahs, Stars of David and hamsahs is
especially significant given the current
environment, Rosenzweig adds.
“I think it’s always been an important
thing for my kids, for people’s children
(and families), to appreciate that kind
of positive Jewish experience,
” he says.
“I think it reminds my kids (and others’
children) that being Jewish is not some-
thing to be afraid of or ashamed of; it’s
something to be prideful of, something
to say out loud proud.
”
Leat Corinne, whose cousin Omer
Shem Tov was taken hostage 423 days
ago in Israel, will also attend. “She rep-
resents resilience, activism and unwav-
ering dedication to her people. We pray

Omer is released way before Chanukah
comes,
” Shemtov says.
Chanukah is late this year, which will
likely bring colder weather. The tradi-
tional offering of free hot cider will help
keep attendees cozy.
Joseph Yusubov of Bloomfield Hills,
a volunteer with Chabad of Greater
Downtown Detroit, will assist with the
hot cider operation. “It makes every-
one’s life a little bit better during this
event,
” he says.
Yusubov says he invites friends and
family to attend, adding it’s great to
have to such a visible Jewish event the
community can look forward to each
year. “It’s such an important event
for the Jews in Detroit,
” he says. “The
camaraderie feels very important for
everyone around.
”
The event will also be streamed
online for those who can’t make it to
this year’s celebration in person.

Menorah in the D takes place at 5 p.m., Dec. 25,

at Campus Martius. For a list of more Chanukah

events and Menorah lightings around town, visit

www.menorahinthed.com/menorahlightings.

Bringing the community’s
lights together.
Menorah in the D

KAREN SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

CHANUKAH