24 | DECEMBER 19 • 2024 
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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