New Delhi: A deadly attack on Sunday at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, killed 15 people celebrating the first day of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights.
The shooting occurred during a public Hanukkah event called “Chanukah by the Sea” at a waterfront park near Bondi Beach, where families had gathered for music, prayers and the ceremonial lighting of a large menorah.
Australian police described it as a targeted attack on the Jewish community, which comprises 117,000 to 130,000 people, accounting for about 0.4% to 0.5% of the country’s total population.
Police confirmed that one of the attackers was killed at the scene, while the other was taken into custody after being injured during the security operation.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that attack was “an act of pure evil. An act of terror. An act of antisemitism”. He vowed to review gun-related laws in Australia to make them tougher and limit the number of guns that can be licensed to individuals.
Several world leaders condemned the attack, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“On behalf of the people of India, I extend my sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. We stand in solidarity with the people of Australia in this hour of grief. India has zero tolerance towards terrorism and supports the fight against all forms and manifestations of terrorism,” PM Modi wrote in a post on X.
The origin of Hanukkah
Hanukkah, spelt ‘Chanukah’ in Hebrew, commemorates the ‘miracle of the oil’ in 2nd century BCE. The eight-day festival has been celebrated by the Jewish community worldwide to symbolise the triumph of light over darkness.
As the story goes, in 164 BCE, after years of the faith being forbidden, a small band of rebels known as the ‘Maccabees’ rose against the Seleucid Greek army. They reclaimed Jerusalem and restored the Holy Temple, it says.
The rebels, to mark their victory, relit the menorah, the sacred candelabrum at the heart of the faith, with a jar of oil that contained enough to burn for just one day. Yet, it kept burning for eight days.
Meaning and importance
Hanukkah means “dedication” in Hebrew, marking the rededication of the temple and the “miracle of light”.
The annual festival begins on the evening before the 25th day of Kislev, the ninth month of the Jewish calendar.
For eight nights, one additional candle is lit on the menorah every evening. Families gather to mark the festival and indulge in traditional foods like latkes (potato pancakes) and fried dough treats, along with games such as the dreidel (a four-sided spinning top).
According to tradition, the menorah is placed in visible locations—doorways, parks, beaches, city centres or other places—as a public declaration of the triumph of light over darkness.
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