Shine A Light for love, justice, kindness, compassion, humanity, and community describes a coalition of Jewish and non-Jewish organizations from across the United States and Canada, who together are speaking up against antisemitism. Shine A Light has partnered with Jewish Federations, including our local Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties. There has been a dramatic rise in antisemitism and as Jews gear up for Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, let’s spread the light of the season to dispel the darkness.

In this spirit, Bat Yam Temple of the Islands invites you to join them at their 3rd Hannukah lighting at The Seahorse Shopping Center, 362 Periwinkle Way on Sanibel, Thursday December 14 at 5 p.m. Our previous lightings were in 2021 and 2022.  Our Menorah survived Hurricane Ian and we continue with our tradition!

Rabbi Sunny Schnitzer will be lighting the Hannukah Menorah at an Interfaith Lighting Ceremony outdoors. Many clergy will be attending and helping to spread the light. Afterwards, perhaps the children there will spin dreidels, the four-sided top with Hebrew letters, we will eat latkes (potato pancakes) and perhaps sing a few songs about the brave Maccabees. Our recently published cookbook, “A Taste of Bat Yam”, written by members of the congregation, will be on sale. This is an opportunity to acquire much loved family recipes.

Shine a Light invites you to share your support. Our community needs and expects neighbors to fight for a strong, unified future. Let’s together light a candle, and another candle and another candle, as we thank our hosts, the Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties and Oded and Tal Yahav, of the Seahorse Shopping Center.