Celtics Host Jewish Heritage Night

Boston basketball fans got a taste of Chanukah this week as Jews from all over the Greater Boston area flocked to the TD Garden to light the menorah and celebrate Jewish Heritage Night.

Sponsored by Chabads of the North Shore, Lexington, Merrimack Valley and Central Mass, this historic event celebrated the fifth night of Chanukah and gave the Boston Jewish Community a night to remember as they celebrated the Festival of Lights with their favorite team.

Before tipoff, event organizers Rabbis Shmaya Friedman, of the Boston Jew Crew; Avi Bukiet of Chabad of Arlington and Moshele Liberow of Chabad of Central Mass invited Boston Celtics owner Mr. Robert Epstein and his wife Esther to join Rabbi Yossi Lipsker, of Chabad of the North Shore, in lighting the Menorah and singing the traditional Chanukah tune Moaz Tzur.

Rabbi Lipsker dedicated the evening in loving memory of the late Mrs. Devorah Krinsky, wife of Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, Chairman of Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters and Regional Director of Chabad in the Greater Boston area.

“I have to say, I never thought I’d see a Menorah being lit at center court of a Boston Celtics game,” commented Mr. Epstein, who was visibly moved by this very powerful experience.

At half time, nearly 700 people crowded into the concourse of section 303 where the Menorah was relit and jelly donuts along with Jewish Heritage Night T-Shirts were distributed to all the participants. Hot, Glatt Kosher concessions were available throughout the evening.

After the thrilling double overtime Celtics victory, the remaining participants took to the court for lay-up drills and to practice their free throw shooting with Celtics team personnel.

“What an incredible display of Jewish community and pride,” said Rabbi Asher Bronstein, of Merrimack Valley. “It’s been a long time in coming, perhaps, but we did it! For a town that takes their sports teams almost as seriously as their Yiddishkeit–this was a perfect shidduch.

Participating in the evenings festivities were Chabads of Milford, Needham, Newton Centre, North Andover, Peabody, Wellesely/Weston and the Chabad Chai Center.