On 5th Night, Hawks Hope to Light Up Knicks

Above: At Jewish Heritage Night in 2015, Menachem Loebenstein lights the menorah while Rabbi Isser New looks on.

The Atlanta Hawks and Chabad of Georgia are set to turn Philips Arena into the Chanukah Chai Light factory for the fourth consecutive year.

Jewish Heritage Night is scheduled for the Hawks’ home game against the New York Knicks on Wednesday, Dec. 28. The festivities will include a pregame Chanukah menorah lighting at midcourt and kosher catering by the Kosher Gourmet. The event will not include a Chanukah-themed halftime performance.

The Knicks game is the Hawks’ only non-Shabbat home game during Chanukah this year.

“We’re very fortunate to be able to bring this event every year to Philips Arena,” said Rabbi Yale New of Chabad of Georgia. “It’s a great opportunity for the Jewish community, and we have a great relationship with the Hawks. Chanukah is not a just a message for Jewish people, but a message to the entire world about religious freedom, and we’re always excited to bring that to the games.”

The team’s principal owner, Tony Ressler, is Jewish, as are co-owners Jesse Itzler and Sara Blakely and CEO Steve Koonin.

The Hawks had a perfect record on Jewish Heritage Night — beating the Los Angeles Clippers 107-97 in 2013 and 107-104 in 2014 — until they lost to the San Antonio Spurs 103-78 last year.

Tickets for Jewish Heritage Night, priced at $37, $42, $69 and $125, are available at www.nba.com/hawks/jewishheritagenight.

The pregame menorah lighting will begin promptly at 7 p.m. The game tips off at 7:30.