Bold warning signs loom as Hanukkah begins: a deadly antisemitic attack in Australia has unsettled Jewish communities worldwide and sharpened the mood as celebrations start. Across the globe, members of the Jewish faith woke to news of violence that many fear could escalate into a broader wave of hatred. The Bondi Beach shooting in Sydney, labeled by authorities as a terrorist act, left at least 15 dead and around 40 injured, with officials indicating the assailant targeted Jewish people during a Hanukkah gathering intended to mark the festival’s first night. Hanukkah itself—an ancient observance celebrated near the winter solstice in the darkest season—signifies the triumph of light over darkness: the Maccabees’ victory and the rededication of the Second Temple around 165 BCE. Today, that history resonates with renewed urgency as communities confront fresh antisemitic threats in Australia.
Rabbi Levi Shemtov, executive vice president of American Friends of Lubavitch, told CNN that Sydney once felt like a welcoming refuge for all faiths, but recent events signal a troubling shift. He noted that many predicted trouble and urged political leaders to act decisively, suggesting previous responses had been insufficient. Earlier in the year, Australia endured a spate of antisemitic incidents, including a synagogue door set ablaze and protesters storming an Israeli restaurant in Melbourne, followed by the Iranian ambassador’s expulsion after Canberra linked Tehran to multiple attacks on Australian soil. President Donald Trump labeled the Sydney attack “a terrible” act, while authorities in major capitals pledged heightened security for Hanukkah events and synagogues.
In response, police in New York, Washington, DC, and New Jersey announced extra resources for Hanukkah celebrations. London’s Met Police stated they would bolster patrols and engage with Jewish communities, even as they noted no immediate link to broader threat levels. Berlin also announced intensified security measures. The Jewish Federations of North America urged government leaders to prioritize Jewish safety at home, in houses of worship, and during public holiday gatherings. The leadership of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles emphasized that when communities face such attacks, a global ripple effect can curb joyful religious expression and curb the exercise of First Amendment rights due to fear.
Yet not all news was bleak. In Los Angeles, hope shone at the Skirball Cultural Center, where organizers and attendees prepared for a Hanukkah event with a determined spirit. Nina Silver described participants as resolute, viewing their celebration as an answer to darkness and a beacon for others. In Washington, DC, attendees of the National Menorah Lighting absorbed the tragedy with a mix of sorrow and resolve, choosing to stand firm in unity and tradition. Some families, including Allison Groff and her husband Matt Lowy, wrestled with fear yet decided to participate, valuing the message of resilience that comes from gathering together. Groff acknowledged the vulnerability that can accompany Jewish identity, while Lowy stressed the importance of showing strength and community, even when not all relatives are nearby.
The broader context is one of rising global antisemitism. Data cited by CNN from the Anti-Defamation League show threats against Jews in the United States tripling in the year following the October 7 attack in Israel. Across the US this year, incidents have intensified—from arson at a community event in Boulder, Colorado, to the killing of Israeli embassy workers near Washington, DC, and arson at a governor’s residence during Passover’s opening night in Pennsylvania. In the UK, a heinous Yom Kippur attack outside a Manchester synagogue left two worshippers dead and others seriously injured in a car-ramming and stabbing incident, underscoring that antisemitism remains an urgent global challenge.
Commentators described the Bondi Beach shooting as an alarmingly foreseeable tragedy, with some arguing that Australian leadership could have dampened the rise in antisemitism earlier. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged Australians to cling to the nation’s core ethos and reject division, violence, and hatred, while experts from the Anti-Defamation League highlighted a sharp rise in harassment, vandalism, and violence since early October.
For many Jewish families in the United States and beyond, the response remains consistent: celebrate Hanukkah, light the menorah, and share light with others, even in fear. Leaders like Rabbi Farkas of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles stress that antisemitism is not merely a Jewish problem but a societal one, urging communities to confront it together. The prevailing message is clear: joy and resilience can coexist with vigilance. If you have a view on whether governments should take stronger preventive steps or if communities should adapt their security practices during holidays, share your thoughts in the comments.
