During Congregation Sha’aray Shalom’s annual menorah lighting, a moment of silence and candlelight vigil was held for victims of a terror attack in Sydney, Australia. On December 14th, a group of Jewish people went to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah on Bondi Beach, a popular location among locals and tourists.
However, their celebration was interrupted by gunshots. In total, 15 innocent people were killed in the attack before the police apprehended the two shooters. It was the deadliest terror attack in modern Australian history, an outrageous display of antisemitism and violence against humanity.
“We’re really devastated by these attacks, especially in a time of joy when we’re supposed to be able to come together and celebrate and practice our culture,” says Ethan Warhaftig, President of HHS’s Jewish Student Union.
He continues “The Jewish Student Union at HHS is standing in solidarity with the victims and we condemn all these hateful actions. We remain committed to creating an inclusive space within our community, and hopefully people can be inspired to use our inclusivity to create other safe spaces.”
Now more than ever, Jewish people around the globe must unite in the face of adversity. The past few years have been especially hard due to the October 7th attacks and a rise in anti-semitic acts and hate speech. Although a vigil in a New England town seems small, acts like these are the first steps to creating a supportive community for Jews worldwide.
Breanna Weiss, a member of the JSU at HHS who attended the ceremony, said that “The candlelight vigil was a touching moment of light in a world full of so much darkness. With the recent events at Bondi Beach, it’s more important than ever that Jewish people come together and feel supported by their community. That’s what last night was and I know I am thankful for it.”
It might seem hard to celebrate after a tragedy like this, but Jews are sadly used to having to experience this. Although everyone was deeply saddened by the events in Sydney, they all still celebrated Hanukkah by singing, dancing, and eating traditional foods like latkes, gelt, and jelly donuts.
“I admire the Jewish people’s ability to celebrate in spite of sad events. It’s really inspiring,” says HHS student Casey Salerno. Countless tragedies have happened to the Jewish people since the dawn of civilization, but through every single one they persevere and continue to thrive. This example is no different from any of the others, and Jews will continue to unite and support each other and their community by building bonds which no amount of hate can break.
