On Tuesday evening, the 7th night of Chanukah, Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel, of Chabad of Nashville, together with Rabbi Levi Klein of Chabad of Memphis, lit the Menorah in front of 15,457 people at the Bridgestone Arena, as the Nashville Predators Hockey team faced off against the Vancouver Canucks.
As the fans streamed into the stadium, the ice was sparkling clear, the lights were sharp, and a nine foot Menorah stood on the edge of the ice. The spirit of Chanukah entered the hearts of the most spirited fans, as Jewish Heritage Night was celebrated at the NHL Hockey team in Nashville Tennessee.
A few minutes before the game, the sports team announcer invited the fans to turn their attention to the illuminated Menorah standing near the goalies net.
Rabbi Tiechtel welcomed the crowd and shared a Chanukah message filled with hockey lingo, and reminded the crowd, that as the Dreidel drops that evening, everyone should light their own Menorah, as they celebrate Festival of Lights.
On the Jumbotron the lights of Chanukah shone, and from the speakers the melodies of the festival blared throughout the giant stadium. Then the players came out and the game began. Though there was a glint of blades on the ice, and the spray of snow in the air, the stadium was filled with the warmth and light of the Menorah.
During the break in the game, the ceremony was replayed on the jumbo-tron screen and all over the stadium, so that any fan that missed the ceremony before the game will see it during the game. This was a pirsumei nissa on a massive scale and an amazing Kiddush Hashem.
Although as Jews, we were a minority sitting in the stadium that night, the Jewish Pride was palpable. All felt proud to have the Chanukah lights displayed for 15,457 people to see!
As a Chanukah gift to the fans, the hockey team gave out a Kippah with the Predators logo, to all who came out to celebrate Chanukah at the Jewish Heritage night.
who won?
wow…what an accomplishment
Wow!amazing!