Chabad at the Super Bowl XL

With over 100,000 tourists coming to Detroit for the Super Bowl, the question arose; Who would be there to provide for the needs of the Jewish visitors?

Responding to this question Rabbis Kasriel Shemtov and Yudi Mann of The Shul in West Bloomfield got to work. They created the “Chabad Jewish Center at the Super Bowl”. The center would be open throughout the Super Bowl weekend and would aim to assist Jewish visitors with food for both the body and soul.

From the moment the door’s opened on Thursday there was a non-stop flow of tourists and locals coming through the center. Kosher hot dogs and hamburgers were going by the dozens, candles were handed out to light on Friday night, and tens of men stopped by to lay Teffilin. For many of them this was their first time laying Teffilin since their Bar-Mitzvah. Giant displays such as Chabad.org the JLI learning initiative, and others informed passersby of chabad’s worldwide programs.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

On Friday several people inquired about a Shabbat schedule. Although there was no formal program planned for Shabbat, throughout the day it became obvious that the center would need to provide for Shabbat as well. Less then three hours before Shabbat Mendy Weg and Meir Szokovski two Rabbinic students who were working there, were asked to spend Shabbat by the center. Arrangements were quickly made to bring wine, challah, fish, cholent, etc. Jewish people staying in the local hotels were informed that there would be services Friday night and Shabbat morning.

It was a Shabbat that will be well remembered by those who where there. The services both Friday night and Shabbat day were followed by a scrumptious Kiddush and as one of the participants commented “This is the best cholent I’ve ever had!”

On Saturday night and Sunday the action continued. Hundreds of Chabad of the Super Bowl balloons were given out and once again the center was full and overflowing with visitors wanting kosher food, looking to join local Torah classes in their hometown or just to sit and schmooze about anything Jewish.

As one of the visitors put it “Wow, Chabad really is everywhere!”