Former Knicks Star Amar’e Stoudemire Returns to Madison Square Garden to Light Hanukkah Menorah
by Shiryn Ghermezian
The inside of Madison Square Garden. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
Former New York Knicks player Amar’e Stoudemire is set to return to Madison Square Garden to light a menorah for the first night of Hanukkah, the New York Daily News reported.
The menorah-lighting ceremony was to be held at Tuesday evening’s showdown between the Knicks and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers.
“Lighting the menorah on the first night of Hanukkah is a privilege in any location but having the opportunity to do it at Madison Square Garden and with the Knicks during their first ever Hanukkah Night is special,” the 35-year-old said in a statement.
The six-time NBA All-Star moved with his family to Israel in the summer of 2016 to play for the Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team — which he helped win the Israeli League championship in June.
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He is deeply connected to Judaism, and has said in the past that his family mostly keeps kosher and gathers for weekly Sabbath meals.
Stoudemire returned to the US this summer.
