- April 26, 2024
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Rabbi Levi Ezagui of Chabad of Palm Coast lights the menorah at the site of recent antisemitic vandalism. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Rabbi Levi Ezagui with his wife, Tzivie, and two of their four children Batsheva, 8, and Mendel, 4. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Celebrants gather around the menorah as Rabbi Levi Ezagui speaks. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney gives a thumbs up as he awaits the menorah lighting. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Aiva Memushi dances to contemporary and traditional music during the celebration. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Rochelle Gilder, Yasmine Oshri and Lielle Oshri enjoy doughnuts after the menorah lighting. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Pinchas Maman, owner of the former bank building that was vandalized with antisemitic graffiti. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Noa Gilly Lazkani bundles up in the chilly weather. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney speaks to Hanukkah celebrants. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Aiva Memushi dances to the music prior to the lighting of the menorah. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Rabbi Levi Ezagui. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Rabbi Levi Ezagui of Chabad of Palm Coast led a menorah lighting celebration on Dec. 13 — the seventh night of Hanukkah — at the old Bank of America building across from the pier on South Ocean Shore Boulevard in Flagler Beach.
The building, one of six businesses in the vicinity that were spray-painted with antisemitic graffiti on the night of Nov. 19, was chosen for the celebration, Ezagui said.
This being a place that was brought hate, it's a good opportunity to introduce light, to show that light always trumps over darkness.”
— RABBI LEVI EZAGUI
“This being a place that was brought hate, it's a good opportunity to introduce light, to show that light always trumps over darkness,” Ezagui said. We're celebrating our Judaism with the light of the menorah, to bring kindness, to bring love to the world. With all the hate, the way to fight it is to bring kindness and love.”
Celebrants bundled up on a windy and rainy evening and ate latkes and doughnuts. Some danced to contemporary and traditional music played over a loudspeaker as they waited for the lighting of the propane menorah.
The menorah was originally set up by the front doors of the building where hateful messages were spray painted. Because of the weather, the menorah was moved to the side of the building under cover.
The owner of the building, Pinchas Maman, was in attendance, as were Tomer and Yasmine Oshri, who own the Salty Turtle gift shops that were also vandalized.
Maman plans to convert the bank building into a retail store and a coffee shop.
“We bring some light,” he said. “We fight with more light.”
Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney lit the shamash, which is used to light the other candles on a Hanukkah menorah.
Doughney, quoting Martin Luther King, said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” and “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that, and hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”
Ezagui thanked the Maman family for letting Chabad hold the lighting celebration.
“We're gathered here to light the menorah, which is a symbol of love, kindness, pride,” Ezagui told the crowd. “There was hate just a month ago at this very spot right in the main entrance, antisemitic attacks aiming to intimidate and strike fear in the Jewish community. But we refuse to be silenced or cower. We stand here today proud and united to declare that we'll never be defeated by hate.”
The Flagler Beach Police Department identified Liam Mackin, 70, an Irish citizen, as the person who vandalized the businesses. A warrant was issued for Mackin's arrest on Dec. 6, but, according to the Central Florida Intelligence Exchange, he left for Ireland on Dec. 5, with no known return date.
