Last night, two gunmen fired on a crowd of more than 1,000 Australian Jews at Bondi Beach, who had gathered to celebrate the first night of the Jewish festival Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah). Fifteen civilians were killed and dozens more injured. For many Australians, the significance of this attack’s timing may not be fully understood – like Hanukkah itself.
Hanukkah is a festival built around the act of kindling light in public, as a declaration that Jewish life will endure despite attempts to extinguish it.
Often referred to as the Festival of Lights, it recalls a moment in history, almost 2,000 years ago, when Jews were targeted for their Jewish practices and identity.
