Thousands flock to Detroit's downtown area on Sunday, December 14, for one of Michigan's largest Hanukkah celebrations. This year's event, Menorah in the D, promises to be an unforgettable experience as it features Israeli family members who were kidnapped and held hostage by Hamas.
In 2023, Ella Ben Ami traveled all the way from Be'eri, Israel, to attend this event after her parents were taken captive during a Hamas attack on Gaza. Her mother, Raz Ben Ami, was released after 54 days in captivity, but her father, Ohad Ben Ami, remained held for an astonishing 491 days before being finally freed last February.
The Israeli hostages were released last month following intense combat that resulted in the deaths of more than 69,000 people in Gaza. This devastating toll has left a lasting impact on families affected by the conflict, including Ella and her family.
Menorah in the D was founded in 2011 as a celebration of Jewish religious freedom and draws thousands to downtown Detroit each year. The event features the lighting of a towering 26-foot-tall menorah, live music, and other cultural activities that bring together Detroit's diverse community.
"We believe that even a small light can dispel great darkness," said Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, executive director of Chabad Lubavitch of Michigan. "Menorah in the D embodies the strength and unity of our city."
This year's event is free and open to the public, with festivities beginning at 5 p.m. on December 14 in Cadillac Square. The menorah lighting ceremony will take place at sundown.
For those interested in learning more about Menorah in the D, visit their website at menorahinthed.com.
In 2023, Ella Ben Ami traveled all the way from Be'eri, Israel, to attend this event after her parents were taken captive during a Hamas attack on Gaza. Her mother, Raz Ben Ami, was released after 54 days in captivity, but her father, Ohad Ben Ami, remained held for an astonishing 491 days before being finally freed last February.
The Israeli hostages were released last month following intense combat that resulted in the deaths of more than 69,000 people in Gaza. This devastating toll has left a lasting impact on families affected by the conflict, including Ella and her family.
Menorah in the D was founded in 2011 as a celebration of Jewish religious freedom and draws thousands to downtown Detroit each year. The event features the lighting of a towering 26-foot-tall menorah, live music, and other cultural activities that bring together Detroit's diverse community.
"We believe that even a small light can dispel great darkness," said Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, executive director of Chabad Lubavitch of Michigan. "Menorah in the D embodies the strength and unity of our city."
This year's event is free and open to the public, with festivities beginning at 5 p.m. on December 14 in Cadillac Square. The menorah lighting ceremony will take place at sundown.
For those interested in learning more about Menorah in the D, visit their website at menorahinthed.com.
! It's amazing to see how one community comes together to celebrate diversity and light up the darkness 
. The fact that Ella and her family were able to find hope and strength through this event is truly inspiring 
. Detroit doing a Menorah in the D is such a wonderful way to bring people together and spread love and kindness 
. Can't wait to see all the smiles on everyone's faces on Dec 14th 
!
i always get confused with dates lol anyway this event sounds super cool but who would've thought detroit would be the place to celebrate hanukkah? 
i feel bad for those Israeli families tho, especially ohad ben ami being held captive for so long 
i hope he's doing alright now. btw do they have latkes at menorah in the d? 
but sometimes i feel like it's just another way to distract us from the real issues, ya know? like, we're still dealin' with all this conflict in gaza and israel... meanwhile, thousands of people flock to detroit for a festival 
I don't get why people are making such a big deal about this Hanukkah celebration in Detroit. Like, it's not even like they're celebrating an actual war or anything 
. They just light some candles and have some music. What's the big deal? It's just another holiday 
. Can't we all just get along and enjoy some festive vibes without making it so dramatic? 
it's so sad but also really inspiring to see how it brought the community together 
I wish everyone could experience this kind of unity and love for one another 
anyway back to detroit... have u ever tried pirozhki from a russian deli? they're sooo good!!! i had the best one last week at this tiny place in hamtramck 
. I mean, 491 days held captive is just mind-blowing... it's hard to imagine what those families went through during the conflict.
️. And I love how Rabbi Shemtov puts it - a small light can dispel great darkness. It's such a powerful message.
. It's amazing how a city like Detroit can come together to celebrate diversity and bring people joy during such a difficult time. The fact that Ella's parents were able to be released is a huge miracle too 
, but I'm sure their experience has left an indelible mark on them.
. The Israeli family members who were kidnapped are such inspirations - Ella's story is literally heart-wrenching 
! Anywayz, I'm low-key excited to see the menorah lighting ceremony this year 
.
. That takes a lot of guts. And I love how Menorah in the D is bringin' everyone together, showin' that we're all human and we can come together no matter what 
. It's about unity, love, and light in the darkest times. And this event? it's gonna be lit (pun intended) 
!
. I'm not saying it's not good for community building or whatever, but can't we focus on the real issues instead of just celebrating with lights and music? 
. Can't wait to see the menorah lighting ceremony on Dec 14! 
It's amazing to see how much it's grown and brought people together. I'm glad they're keeping it free for everyone, that's so cool 
. I'm sure this event is gonna be super special for her and her family