Jewish Night at the Celtics

Boston basketball fans got a fresh taste of Chanukah this past Tuesday night, as Jews from all over the Greater Boston area flocked to New England’s biggest Chanukah Party at TD Garden to light the menorah and celebrate Jewish Heritage Night with the Boston Celtics.

Coordinated by Rabbi Shmaya Friedman and Rabbi Moshele Liberow and hosted by Chabads of the North Shore, Lexington, Merrimack Valley and Central Mass, the event celebrated the seventh night of Chanukah and gave the Boston Jewish Community a night to remember as they celebrated the Festival of Lights with their favorite team and a 108-100 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Before tipoff, Rabbi Liberow of Chabad of the North Shore welcomed the crowd and invited Rabbi Alter Bukiet, of Chabad of Lexington, to share a few inspirational words about Chanukah and then asked the President of the Combined Jewish Philanthropists of Boston, Mr. Barry Shrage, to join Rabbi Yossi Lipsker, Director of Chabad of the North Shore, in lighting the Menorah and singing the traditional Chanukah song Moaz Tzur.

Rabbi Liberow dedicated the 2nd annual Jewish Heritage Night in loving memory of the late Mrs. Devorah Krinsky, wife of Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, Chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch and Regional Director of Chabad in the Greater Boston area.

Following the on-court Menorah lighting, more than 1,000 people crowded into the Comcast Zone for a concert and Chanukah Party with Boston’s premier Klezmer band “The Klezwoods.” The Menorah was relit and Chanukah crafts and Jewish Heritage Night T-Shirts were distributed to all the participants. Hot, Glatt Kosher concessions were available throughout the evening.

During Halftime, Rabbi Asher Bronstein of Chabad of Merrimack Valley expressed his gratitude for the evening’s sponsors at a VIP cocktail reception in the West End Room.

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


“It was an unbelievable display of Jewish community and pride,” said Rabbi Avi Bukiet of Chabad of Arlington, “I’m proud to be a part of such a warm and spirited Jewish community. With such an incredible turnout it’s clear that bridging Celtic Pride with Jewish Pride is the perfect match.

Co-Sponsoring the evening’s festivities were: Chabad’s of Arlington, North Andover, Peabody, Wellesely/Weston and the Chabad Chai Center. As well as: CJP, Commerce Bank, Gann Academy, Maimonides School, The Rashi School, New England Hebrew Academy, NCSY and BBYO-New England.