Thousands of Detroiters will gather in downtown to celebrate Jewish freedom this Hanukkah, as a local family is reunited after being held captive for months by Hamas militants. Ella Ben Ami, who traveled from Israel to attend the annual Menorah in the D event, will share her story alongside Israeli hostages who were freed last month.
Ben Ami's parents, Raz and Ohad Ben Ami, were among 251 people kidnapped by Hamas in October 2023, during which Ohad remained captive for 491 days. His mother was released after 54 days, but not until February of this year that her father was finally freed.
The event, founded in 2011, draws thousands to celebrate the lighting of a 26-foot-tall menorah, live music, and cultural activities. Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, executive director of Chabad Lubavitch of Michigan, believes Menorah in the D represents "the strength and unity of Detroit's diverse community." The event is free and open to the public, with festivities beginning at 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 14.
As hundreds gather to light a beacon of hope amidst darkness, local leaders like Rabbi Shemtov aim to foster unity among Detroiters from all backgrounds.
Ben Ami's parents, Raz and Ohad Ben Ami, were among 251 people kidnapped by Hamas in October 2023, during which Ohad remained captive for 491 days. His mother was released after 54 days, but not until February of this year that her father was finally freed.
The event, founded in 2011, draws thousands to celebrate the lighting of a 26-foot-tall menorah, live music, and cultural activities. Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, executive director of Chabad Lubavitch of Michigan, believes Menorah in the D represents "the strength and unity of Detroit's diverse community." The event is free and open to the public, with festivities beginning at 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 14.
As hundreds gather to light a beacon of hope amidst darkness, local leaders like Rabbi Shemtov aim to foster unity among Detroiters from all backgrounds.
it's just another jewish holiday 
but i guess its cool that the ben ami fam is finally free after all those months in captivity 
my sister went through similar experience last year during ramadan and i gotta say, being captive for 491 days is straight up insane 
dont get me wrong, i love how ppl are coming together to celebrate, but its not like theres a cure for terrorism 
thousands of ppl r gathering downtown 2 celebrate jewish freedom & reunion of famly who wus held captive by hamas militants!! 
Ella ben ami is attending & sharing her story alongside Israeli hostages who were freed last month! Her parents Raz & ohad ben ami were kidnapped in october 2023 & remained in captivity for ages, her mom got released early but her dad took 491 days!!! 
but now they r reunited & that's somethin to celebretate!!! the community event Menorah in the D draws ppl from all backgrounds & is like a symbol of unity & hope 
this is such a beautiful story! i'm so hyped that ella ben ami gets to share her story at the menorah in the d event 
️ it's like, she's literally the symbol of hope for her fam after being held captive by hamas militants for months 
491 days?!?! that's insane lol 
detroit is like a melting pot and this event is a perfect example of that! the fact that its free and open to the public is just amazing 
especially when it comes to celebrating our differences and finding strength in community 251 days for ohad ben ami thats just ridiculous and I hope his story can bring awareness to what these people go through 
. But at the same time, I'm curious about this Menorah in the D event, what's that all about? Is it like a big party with live music and stuff? And why is it so important to have unity events like that? Can we get some pics of the menorah tho? 
can't even... just read about the reunion of an Israeli family being held captive by Hamas and I'm feeling so much joy 
! It's amazing how something as simple as a menorah event in downtown Detroit can bring people together like that. Menorah in the D, indeed! 
. Can't wait to attend this event on Dec 14 and soak up the vibes 
. i mean i feel bad 4 the ben ami fam being held captive but its awesome they r all free now. detroiters are pretty cool tho for comin thru w this event every year, it just goes 2 show that even in dark times theres always hope & unity 
We should be supporting each other, not tearing each other down. And yeah, it's awesome to see local leaders like Rabbi Shemtov making an effort to foster unity in our community.
. The fact that it's free and open to the public is just amazing, you know? It's not about politics or anything like that, it's just about people coming together to shine a light of hope.
. But can we talk about the logistics for a sec? Like, have you tried finding parking downtown during peak Hanukkah hours? It's a nightmare 
. And don't even get me started on the porta-potties... I mean, come on, folks, can't we do better than that for a celebration of freedom and unity? 
so glad Ella's parents are finally free & reunited with her 
It's like a beacon of hope just like the Menorah they'll be lighting - it shows people can come together despite differences and find common ground. The family reunion story is also so inspiring - I'm sure Ella Ben Ami's experience will really resonate with people. Anyway, if you're in Detroit on Dec 14th, totally check it out! 
It's crazy. And it's even more amazing that Ella Ben Ami is sharing her story alongside other Israeli hostages - she's definitely an inspiration to us all 
The fact that it represents strength and unity for the community is really beautiful. Anyway, I'm just hoping everyone has a fantastic time on December 14 and we can all celebrate the power of hope and unity together 
but to see them be reunited now is just the best thing ever!!! 
can't wait for Dec 14th when we get to light that massive menorah