Key West Police Chief Sean Brandenburg attended the Dec. 29 lighting of the giant menorah at Bayview Park, but not because the Hanukkah celebration required a police presence.
Brandenburg was there as a community leader, along with Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez, commissioner Sam Kaufman, who is Jewish, and 100 or so celebrants.
Unlike in many larger cities, where pro-Palestine protests have turned violent against Jews, Key West remained peaceful since the October 2023 attack on Israel by the Hamas militant group in neighboring Palestine.
Local Jewish leaders, including Rabbi Shimon Dudai and Rabbi Yaakov Zucker, offered prayers, blessings and hope for peace, not just for the eight days of Hanukkah, but for the coming years.
Hanukkah this year took place Dec. 25 through Jan. 2.
