Chanukah Returns to Major Sporting Events at U.S. Stadiums

The roar of the crowd fades, the bleachers fall quiet. As the Columbus Blue Jackets prepare to face off the visiting team mid-game, a bearded rabbi comes into view, climbing a ladder. It’s Rabbi Areyah Kaltmann, and he’s about to light the menorah at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. “Happy Chanukah! Tonight is a celebration of light over darkness, we can all make a huge difference through acts of goodness and kindness!” the rabbi bellows, his booming personality filling the 18,000-seat arena. “Let’s go, Jackets!” he roars, as the fans erupt in cheers. The menorah is lit, the strains of “Maoz Tzur” play over the speakers, and the crowd goes wild.

The atmosphere is electric, and for Jewish children in Columbus, the spectacle is priceless. “We empower the kids with Jewish pride and identity,” Kaltmann, co-director of Chabad of Columbus with his wife, Esther, tells Chabad.org. “I cannot describe the effect this has on thousands of children. It ignites a pride to be Jewish in their hearts.”

What is now a ubiquitous part of many games on Chanukah began in 1987 when Rabbi Raphael Tennenhaus, co-director of Chabad of South Broward County, Fla., decked out the Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami with signage wordedNFL: Night of the Festival Lightsand lit an eight-foot menorah at the game. As many as 80,000 people attended, and a tradition was created.

Days before that Chanukah, Rabbi Pinny Andrusier, co-director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Southwest Broward, attending a farbrengen at Chabad headquarters in Brooklyn, N.Y., informed the Rebbe of the menorah-lighting that would take place at the Miami Dolphins game. The Rebbe gave him a bottle of “L’chaim,” smiling broadly, and told Andrusier to invite the Chassidim at the farbrengen. After Andrusier did so, the Rebbe smiled again.

Today, in addition to the menorah-lighting, many Chabad centers also host a “Jewish Heritage Night” at the game with designated seating for their community’s contingent, kosher food stands and entertainment. Chabad of Oregon will host Jewish Heritage Night at the Moda Center on Dec. 2, and community members of Chabad of Columbus will be rooting for the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 5 as they play the San Jose Sharks. The Columbus game will include kosher food and Columbus Blue Jackets-branded Jewish Heritage scarves.

Chabad representatives of Greater Orlando look on as the menorah is lit during an intermission.

In Florida, Chabad centers of Orlando will join together on Dec. 1 at the Amway Center, while the Orlando Magic take on the Denver Nuggets. Chabad will host a pregame concert, and the menorah will be lit at half-time. Each participating Chabad center will have its own suite at the event, while at half-time they will all join together for the menorah-lighting. “It’ll allow the fans to tap into the Chanukah spirit,” says Rabbi Dovid Dubov of Chabad of Greater Orlando.

A pre-game concert will be held at the Amway Center.

Micheal Szames, 14, of Columbus, Ohio, has attended “Jewish Heritage Night” for years. “We live in a secular world,” he says. “It feels amazing to show everyone how proud we are to be Jewish.”

When a child or teenager growing up in a largely non-Jewish environment sees their faith on public display, it has a profound impact on them, attests Rabbi Chaim Wilhelm, co-director of Chabad of Northeast Portland. “That’s why we do it. The feedback we get from our teens each year makes it all worth it.”

To locate a Chanukah event near you, click here.

An image of the Rebbe is displayed at Orlando's Amway Center, as the menorah is lit.

Dreidelman is on the court in Portland.