Faces & Places

JEWSIN THED

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Lighting Up Chanukah on the Eastside JACKIE HEADAPOHL ASSOCIATE EDITOR

For the first time, Jewish The drive-in Chanukah that there is only growth for the families who live in event saw the lighting of a future of this community.” eastern Oakland County 12-foot menorah, followed by a The event was the brainhad a Chabad Chanukah event fire show for all to enjoy. Local child of Caytak, whose of their very own. On Dec. dignitaries, including Mayor Chabad center serves fami13, the Chabad Jewish Center Ethan Baker of Troy and mem- lies throughout the eastside. of Troy arranged a very large bers of city council attended. A Most of the approximately public Menorah lighting in large stage and video wall were 1,000 Jewish families on the Troy, attended by 350 people set up at the Troy Technology eastside live in Troy and who joined from the safety of Park to project the event so Rochester Hills, he says, and their cars. people could easily see what nearly half are engaged with

“This must have been the was happening. the Chabad center. largest Jewish celebration that “I felt proud that the Jewish The pandemic may have the entire eastside has seen community on this side of town slowed the center down, but it in a very long time, and for was able to gather like this and hasn’t stopped it. “Ever since sure a first for a Chanukah!” celebrate Chanukah in such the pandemic started, we never said Rabbi Menachem Caytak, a fashion,” Caytak said. “I’m sat back. Every holiday, every co-director of the Chabad excited, excited for what this event, we sat and brainstormed, Jewish Center of Troy. community has in store. I feel thinking out of the box, how to best serve the Jewish community in a safe way, all inspired by Rabbi Schneerson’s message of love,” Caytak said.

“When Chanukah came around, we knew that especially this holiday, whose message is spreading light, needed to be celebrated on the largest scale possible in a safe way. We came up with this Menorah drive-in idea, and we probably got more people in Troy to come together for Chanukah, then if we had done a more traditional Chanukah party.”

Caytak wants to call out Friedman Real Estate for providing the venue, as well as Pegasus Entertainment, Lisa Fenkell, Barry Drillman and Eli Puretz for their help in making the event a success.

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1. James Silver brought his children to the Chanukah celebration. 2. The Bednarsh family enjoys the festivities. 3. The eastside menorah is lit by Scott Shefman, executive

managing director of Friedman Real Estate. Also on stage are Troy Mayor Ethan Baker, Troy City Councilwoman Ellen Hodorek, Rabbi Levi Shemtov, executive director of the Friendship Circle of Michigan, and Chana Caytak, co-director of Chabad Jewish Center of Troy. Rabbi Menachem Caytak, co-director of the Chabad Jewish Center of Troy looks on.

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