Join "Beacon Shine the Light" in Great Neck - every Thursday from 12:30-1:00 pm

Are you overwhelmed by the constant barrage of worrisome events in the news? Does it feel like there's nothing you can do to make a difference? That's completely understandable! But remember: No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.

There is something that you can do that only takes 30 minutes per week: Join the Beacon.

Beacon for Democracy is a project of the Union Theological Seminary that promotes kindness and compassionate democracy through peaceful demonstrations. Started in January 2025 by Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, the Beacon encourages people to go outside with signs saying what they stand for, once a week on Thursdays for 30 minutes. Together we find joy in resistance!

There are Beacon groups all over the United States, and now in Europe, too. For more information on The Beacon, visit www.beaconfordemocracy.org

I got involved in May, when I started a Beacon group in Great Neck with Ron Gross. Since 5/29/25, we have been gathering every Thursday for 30 minutes on the corner of Grace Avenue & Bond Street, across from the Great Neck Diner. We hold signs, we sing songs, we recite poetry and the 30 minutes goes quickly as we practice joyful resistance to autocracy.

When we started, we were meeting at 7pm, as were all the Beacon groups. But since the weather has changed and the sunsets come earlier, many groups have adjusted their meeting time on Thursdays. Here in Great Neck, we now meet from 12:30-1:00 pm.

This is a photo from 11/20. We'll be there on 11/27, even though it's Thanksgiving. We're there every Thursday! It's only 30 minutes, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to do this every week.

Here's a link to register: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/868551/

-- Nina K. Gordon