SARASOTA COUNTY (WSNN) – Temple Emanu-El members turn a negative into something positive.
Temple Emanu-El and Temple Sinai were vandalized in April and July. Devastating for temple leaders like Rabbi Elaine Glickman.
“It was horrible. It was an awful thing for the community to know it had happened, and for those of us who saw it, it was very very painful,” Glickman said.
Now, they’re using paint, meant to harm and hurt to uplift and inspire. Temple Emanu-El Youth Group Advisor, Savannah Samberg came up with the idea to paint rocks with messages like ‘smile’, ‘you are my sunshine’ and ‘you are loved.’
“We wanted to be able to include everyone in some sort of positive solution for this hateful crime,” Samberg said. “I wanted to find a way to do something together and create something beautiful to work on a project together even though we couldn’t go to the temple and all be at the same place at the same time.”
Priya Weiman is helping Samberg and her group got creative in uniting people to spread light instead of darkness.
“We’re determined to keep everyone comfortable but still encourage participation, members of the temple are able to come and pick up rocks at designated times and then take it home as a project,” Weiman said.
Helping explore a difficult topic.
“Unfortunately, anti-sematism is something that is on the rise throughout the entire nation, so it’s an important conversation to have,” Weiman said.
More than 400 rocks were painted as of Saturday noon. Samberg says they’re planning to spread messages during Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year coming up later this month.
“So this way everyone got to participate in a painting one and then they kind of get swapped so you receive someone else’s rock in your High Holiday bag as a gift for the upcoming New year,” Samberg said.
Anyone can pick up a bag; you need not be a temple member.
“They’re just meant to bring a little joy and remind everyone that even though we might feel a part that we’re still together,” Weiman said.
Spreading a tangible symbol of positivity across the Suncoast.
“You can get your rock and put it in your neighborhood,” Samberg said. “Or keep it in your house or put it in your garden, and just spread those messages from everyone a little bit wider.”