Welcome back, Jeff Halpern

The Tampa Bay Lightning gets major props for coordinating the return of veteran Jeff Halpern to the team on Jewish Heritage Night on Dec. 18.

Halpern scored the game-tying goal to thrill some 500 hometown Jewish fans, but the Lightning lost to the Colorado Avalanche in a 2-1 shoot-out. He had been sidelined for seven months due to an injury sustained during the World Hockey Championships in the spring.

The game was hosted as Jewish Heritage Night @ the St. Pete Times Forum, a project of the Lighting and eight Chabad centers in the greater Tampa area. Jewish fans took part in a pre-Hanukka celebration and menora-lighting on the plaza before the game; Hanukka music and video clips were be shown on the Jumbotrons in the arena.

“The fact that Halpern is making his season debut on Jewish Heritage Night is real divine providence. He will have 500 Jewish fans cheering him on and I guarantee the Lightning will win tonight” said Rabbi Levi Hodakov, program director at Chabad of Pinellas County prior to the game.

“There can be no better way to celebrate the festival of lights, then with the entire community coming out in a display of Jewish pride to watch the Lightning.” said Rabbi Yossie Dubrowski, director of Chabad of Tampa Bay.

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Kaplan’s Korner on Jews and Sports © 2008 New Jersey Jewish News

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