Detroit is gearing up to host one of its largest Hanukkah celebrations, featuring an Israeli family reunited after two members were kidnapped and held hostage by Hamas. The Menorah in the D event, which takes place on Sunday, December 14th, will be lit with a special dedication to Ella Ben Ami's parents, who were among the victims of the October 7th attack that saw over 69,000 people killed in Gaza.
Ella's mother, Raz Ben Ami, was released after 54 days in captivity, but her father, Ohad Ben Ami, remained captive for an astonishing 491 days before being freed on February 8th. Ella has traveled from Israel to attend the event, which marks a significant moment of healing and closure for the family.
For Detroit's residents, Menorah in the D serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of tolerance, unity, and freedom, particularly during the holiday season. As Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, executive director of Chabad Lubavitch of Michigan, noted: "Each year, Menorah in the D reminds us that even a small light can dispel great darkness... This celebration embodies the strength and unity of Detroit's diverse community."
The event will take place at 5 p.m. in Cadillac Square, with the menorah lighting scheduled for sundown. Admission is free and open to the public, making it an accessible celebration for all members of the community.
Those interested can visit menorahinthed.com for more information on this year's festivities and how to get involved.
Ella's mother, Raz Ben Ami, was released after 54 days in captivity, but her father, Ohad Ben Ami, remained captive for an astonishing 491 days before being freed on February 8th. Ella has traveled from Israel to attend the event, which marks a significant moment of healing and closure for the family.
For Detroit's residents, Menorah in the D serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of tolerance, unity, and freedom, particularly during the holiday season. As Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, executive director of Chabad Lubavitch of Michigan, noted: "Each year, Menorah in the D reminds us that even a small light can dispel great darkness... This celebration embodies the strength and unity of Detroit's diverse community."
The event will take place at 5 p.m. in Cadillac Square, with the menorah lighting scheduled for sundown. Admission is free and open to the public, making it an accessible celebration for all members of the community.
Those interested can visit menorahinthed.com for more information on this year's festivities and how to get involved.
️! It's amazing that Ella got to travel from Israel to attend, she must be super grateful to have her family back together again 
. And can you imagine walking into Cadillac Square at sundown with all those lights shining? It gives me chills thinking about it 
. I'm also loving the fact that admission is free and open to everyone – it's a total vibe of community and love 
. We need more events like this in our city, where people from different backgrounds can come together and celebrate 
.
i remember when menorah in the d first started & it was so emotional seeing people from all walks of life come together to light a menorah. now that its back on, im really glad they're including the ben ami family's story, its a powerful reminder of the impact one person can have 
and i think its amazing that detroit is using this as an opportunity to show its support for israel & the jewish community 
what kinda vibe r u expecting from this event tho? gonna be packed or still pretty chill?
and now they're going to light the menorah together in Detroit on Dec 14th! It's gonna be such a powerful moment of healing and unity 
. I'm so down for this event, who else is excited? 
. And it's in Detroit, of all places! I love how it's bringing people together, showing everyone that even in the darkest times, there's still light to be found 
. And it's free, too? That's just amazing!
anyway, detroit doin this is awesome, its amazing how menorah in the d brings ppl together, makes me think of our christmas lights in our neighborhood back home, its like a small community comin together to spread cheer 