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Nets Honor Sydney Attack Victims with Hanukkah Game
20 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Brooklyn Nets honored Sydney Hanukkah massacre victims during a game.
- A giant basketball menorah was lit by the nephew of a massacre victim.
- The event celebrated Jewish heritage and the power of light over darkness.
During their game against the Miami Heat on Thursday, the Brooklyn Nets held a Hanukkah celebration to honor the victims of the recent Sydney Hanukkah massacre. Coach Jordi Fernandez expressed the team's solidarity with the Jewish community, stating their thoughts were with those affected by the tragedy.
The ceremony featured the lighting of a large basketball menorah. This significant act was performed by the 14-year-old nephew of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who tragically lost his life in the Sydney attack. The event was facilitated by the Chabad Teen Network, highlighting intergenerational support.
Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky of Chabad World Headquarters praised the Nets' recognition of Hanukkah, calling it a testament to American values and the power of sports to unite. He emphasized the holiday's message that light is infinitely more powerful than darkness, a sentiment embodied by the team's celebration and its Jewish players, Danny Wolf and Ben Saraf.
