Fort Myers Jewish Community Responds to Antisemitic Attack with Chanukah Menorah Lighting | Lee County

As the first candle was lit, the message was unmistakable: light will endure. The Chanukah menorah lighting in Fort Myers came after a deadly shooting at a Chanukah celebration in Sydney, Australia, an attack that has shaken Jewish communities around the world.

Rabbi Yitzchok Minkowicz of Chabad Lubavitch of Southwest Florida said the tragedy has been deeply painful for the global Jewish community.

“We’re terribly sad about what happened,” Minkowicz said.

But here in Fort Myers, community leaders say fear will not define their response. Instead, they are choosing resilience, faith, and unity.

“We need to bring out more light. We need to dispel the darkness,” said Shani Minkowicz, the rabbi’s wife.

Rabbi Minkowicz emphasized that hiding in fear is not an option.

“The enemy wants us to live a life of fear, pain, suffering, hide, and that’s everything we will not do,” he said. “We’re going to have faith, we’re going to be out in the open, we’re going to bring the light, and we’re going to continue to be happy, and we’re going to show that light is stronger than darkness.”

That message came to life at the community event, where families gathered not only for prayer, but for moments of joy and togetherness, including mini golf, face painting, food, music, and dancing.

Community members say showing up for one another is more important than ever.

“As Jews, we’re always together. We’re all brothers,” said attendee Shneur Weinstein. “When one of us falls, we all fall together. When one of us rises, we all rise together.”

Another attendee, Mendel Spritzer, said Chanukah’s message is about perseverance.

“The lesson of Hanukkah is that you should just overcome it,” Spritzer said, adding that he is proud of his Jewish identity.

Organizers say the menorah lighting was meant to honor those affected by the attack, support Jewish communities worldwide, and reaffirm a commitment to faith and visibility.

By lighting the menorah together, the Fort Myers Jewish community says it is sending a clear message: hatred will not silence their faith.