On Aug. 17, Sephardic Biker Holim hosted the first annual Light Festival in loving memory of Loris Louzia. The event was put together to inspire the youthful teenagers of our community. The Light Festival acted as a fundraiser to raise money for families who, unfortunately, have to deal with unexpected tragedies. 

The bonfire blazed throughout the night creating a sense of unity in the air. The fire set the mood for the night, warm and glowing.

Daniel Miz, a talented community singer, performed for the zen crowd of teens. There were speakers who told their stories in order to create awareness, understanding, and most of all to inspire. Katy Betesh spoke to the audience about how she had lost her father at such a young age and how she got through it. Eddie Shammah discussed the struggle he has with his illness, MS, and how he gets through each day. Shelly Louzia, an organizer of the event also spoke about her experience of losing her mother and how, with services and help provided by SBH, she lives on. 

“The message was that not everything is a punishment and there is a ‘light’ at the end of the tunnel,” explained Louiza. An important message of the night throughout was that G-d is good and we sometimes must go through hardships to see the good.

“To inspire, we spoke about our hard times and showed how we must shed a light on dark times,” said Louiza.

The refreshments  at the event were perfectly and specifically on par with a teenager’s appetite. Tables held every kind of snack you could think of. From cookies, to bowls piled high with Twizzlers and Fruit By the Foot, to fresh cut watermelon, amongst other treats. Sushi was served for dinner and an Urban Pops cart was present to hand out free ice pops all night as well.

For sale at the event were hats, T-shirts, and sweatshirts with the event’s colorful and creative logo. All proceeds went directly to SBH. At the end of the night everyone gathered by the fire to set off balloons, another bonding activity that made the night such a treasured experience.

“The night was a definite success. Beyond words,” remarked Louzia, who was truly moved by the event due to the fact that it was held in honor of her mother who passed. A beautiful tribute and an unforgettable event.

Frieda Schweky

Frieda@sephardic.org

Frieda Schweky is Sephardic.Org's official community events reporter. For inquiries and to get involved with our site, please contact Frieda via email.