Hanukkah Light Amidst the Evil Darkness

It was devastating to wake up this morning to the news of the horrific, evil shooting attack on a family Hanukkah celebration near Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, one of the first places in the world to bring in the festival of light, which began in darkness.  Jews all over the world are in such deep shock and, inevitably, afraid that such incidents might happen at other public Hanukkah events.  When I heard that one of the victims was Rabbi Eli Schlanger, I reached out to Rabbi Yisrael Wilhelm from CU Chabad to learn that he knew him well and described him as “the most positive, happy, awesome, loving person.”  Another victim in critical condition is a close friend of Rabbi Wilhelm’s son Asher.  Rabbi Wilhelm is asking for our prayers for healing for him Yehuda Leib Ben Manya, along with all the victims. “We are all family,” Rabbi Wilhelm said to me.  Though not as close, we too are family and this is shattering and heartbreaking.

The rise in antisemitism in the world is very frightening and Jews are feeling threatened and unsafe in so many places.  We of course have seen it here in Boulder, in Washington DC, in Manchester and London in the UK, and now this evil tragedy in Australia. We must urge all of our leaders to take seriously the threats to our people and recognize the danger of rhetoric like “globalize the intafada.”  This is what it looks like.

Amidst the deep pain of this and our anguish for the victims and their families, the Jewish response, especially as we prepare for the first night of Hanukkah here, is to stand in the world with resilience, courage, holy chutzpah and defiance; to light the candles knowing that light is the only force that can really eliminate the darkness, that hope, even in the face of this horror, can ignite us out of despair.  The Chief Rabbi of Australia and Jewish leaders all over the world are urging us to continue our Hanukkah celebrations, to light candles and to celebrate our survival, resilience and resolve in the face of this abhorrent attack.  Here is a statement from the Conservative Movement

In Bonai Shalom and around Boulder there are many Hanukkah events, including the lighting on Monday night on Pearl Street, honoring some of the survivors of our June 1st attack here, our Hanukkah gathering at Bonai on Thursday evening, Musical Shabbat Hanukkah Friday Night Service and so much more. Details here. Last week, along with Bonai’s Bnei Mitzvah class and volunteers, we led a joyful Hanukkah event at Golden West Senior Living.  This week, I will be leading two other Hanukkah services for our elders with Jewish Family Services at Frasier Meadows and The Pearl.  I will be missing Bonai’s Hanukkah party on Thursday as I will be attending the Governor’s Hanukkah Celebration at the Capitol.  All this and more goes on and, as our Chabad friends tell us, our response is to add more light and do more mitzvahs.  Wherever you find yourself, alone, with family, with community, please light Hanukkah candles tonight for our past and for our futre, for the victims of this hateful attack and for our resolve to live defiantly and joyfully as Jews, letting our light shine into the world.

Yes, we feel angry and afraid and sad, but we cannot let these legitimate feelings extinguish our light.
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May the memories of the victims be for a blessing, may their heartbroken families find strength and consolation, may the injured be healed, may we find our light and goodness and bring it into the dark world.

Hanukkah Blessings,
Rabbi Marc