Jewish women find togetherness, illumination

The ladies came one by one to Sharon Mizrahi’s Cape Coral home Wednesday night. They chatted about the house and decorating, traffic and the holidays. They talked about Ohio State football with Mizrahi’s daughter, Tracey, who was home for the semester break.

Then, while the pool fountain bubbled pleasantly on the other side of the open French doors, they settled comfortably onto upholstered sofas and got down to business.

Hanukkah is a symbol, a message of the triumph of freedom over aggression, of light over darkness, said Rivky Labkowski, a petite 24-year-old.

Today, that darkness includes the “insidious erosion of time-honored values and principles that are the foundation of any decent society,” she told the members of the Jewish Women’s Circle of Chabad of Cape Coral.

Around her were women of diverse ages — one retired, one a young Edison College student. They came from Fort Myers, North Fort Myers and Cape Coral.

The women have been schmoozing and crafting in a casual group organized by Labkowski, wife of Rabbi Yossi Labkowski, rabbi of Chabad of Cape Coral, who began the new congregation in late summer 2004.

“When they came here, it meant the whole, wide world to me,” said Aliza Ben Tal, who attends worship services weekly with the Labkowskis. “Nobody knew about each other — the glue that holds a community was not there.”

Ben Tal, a native of Israel who now lives in North Fort Myers, was surprised to see so many other Jewish people, including others from Israel, at Labkowski’s orthodox services.

“This is the place where you meet everybody. Everyone wants to hold to a community. This is what they offer,” she said.

The women’s circle offers a chance for female fellowship in addition to family worship.

“I go to socialize with other women. It’s a way to make friends,” said Sarah Jahanian, 21, who recently moved from Miami to Fort Myers.

Jewish women not affiliated with the Chabad synagogue also attend the women’s circle events, Labkowski said.

“It is a ladies’ night out. It’s a chance to meet other Jewish women from the city, to socialize, to schmooze. It’s more like a social event,” she said.

The ladies made jewelry in November and discussed how Judaism and jewelry connect.

In September, the women learned to make traditional challah bread in advance of the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashana.

December’s theme, “Light Up Your Life,” prepared for the illuminating holiday of Hanukkah, which begins Dec. 25 this year.

The holiday celebrates a Hebrew military victory. Jewish families light a candle every evening for eight days to recall the miracle of a small amount of oil lasting eight days in a lamp during the battle.

Labkowski, mother of a 1-year-old, urged her 10 companions to see Hanukkah as an opportunity to illuminate their homes and families by lighting candles for traditional Shabbat prayers on Fridays and by observing the holiday.

She also urged them to “illuminate the outside world” by doing good works in the community.

When the five-minute lesson was over, Amy Arlow of Michael’s Art Supplies gathered the women around a Ping-Pong table to make Hanukkah greeting cards.

They sampled latkes — potato pancakes — and doughnuts called sufganiot, all made by Labkowski.

The group usually meets on a Wednesday evening. The date and location change monthly.

Labkowski is an enthusiastic recruiter for the women’s circle.

“I was contacted by Rivky shortly after they moved to town last year. She invited me to come to their first women’s circle,” said Tami Traiger, 39, of Cape Coral, who also attends Temple Beth El in Fort Myers.

The first meeting Traiger attended was also before Hanukkah and a representative of the Yankee Candle store gave a demonstration.

“Then, Rivky put the Jewish spin on it,” Traiger said light-heartedly. “I’m Jewish, and we don’t have a lot of Jewish places where we live. It adds enrichment to what I do in my own life.”

She likes activities organized by Chabad Lubavitch congregations in Cape Coral and Fort Myers. An offshoot of Hasidic Judaism, the Lubavitchers embrace joy and spirituality as they await their Messiah, whom they believe is coming soon.

“They really focus on empowering the women’s role in the house, in her family,” Traiger said. “It’s very empowering to be around other women who are Jewish and share in your same beliefs. It’s an affirmation of what I am doing in my home.”