Some media have talked about “October 7” of Australia in reference to the attack carried out by Hamas on 7 October 2023 on the border of the Gaza Strip. In both cases the terrorist attacks took place in the context of an important Jewish religious holiday: that of Simchat Torah at the end of Sukkot in 2023 and that of Hanukkah, the “festival of lights”, on Sunday in Sydney.
The attack occurred in Bondi Beach, one of the most famous and popular beaches in Sydney: two men fired shots into a crowd at a local Jewish community event organized to mark the first evening of Hanukkah, one of Judaism’s most important holidays. The two attackers killed 15 people and injured 40 others, 27 of whom are still in hospital, 6 in critical condition.
The police chief of New South Wales (the state in which Sydney is located), Mal Lanyon, he said he considered what happened a terrorist attack and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it a “vile act of anti-Semitism”.
Those responsible have been identified as Sajid Akram and Naveed Akramand they are father and son. The two men started shooting just before 7pm local time (9am Italian time) from an elevated position on a pedestrian overpass that leads to the beach where the event had been organized “Hanukkah by the Sea.” It is estimated that there were over a thousand people on site. The people killed were aged between 10 and 87: among them was also the assistant rabbi who had organized the meeting, Eli Schlanger, and a man who survived the Shoah, Alex Kleytman.
A religious celebration turned into tragedy.
But what does Hanukkah represent for Jews? Hanukkah (also called Chanukkah) is a Jewish holiday celebrated for eight days, generally between the end of November and the month of December. It is known as the “festival of lights” and has its roots in a historical and religious event that occurred in the 2nd century BC.
After severe religious persecution under Hellenistic rule, the Jewish people led by the Maccabees managed to reconquer the Temple of Jerusalem, which had been desecrated. At the time of the rededication, according to tradition, it was found only a small quantity of pure oil, enough to power the Temple lamp for a single day. Yet that flame, symbol of God’s presence, remained lit for eight days, the time needed to prepare new consecrated oil.
From this episode Hanukkah was born: a celebration that remembers the faithfulness of God and the tenacity of a people who do not renounce their faith, even when they are threatened or persecuted.
Tearful people lay flowers on Bondi Beach, Sydney, after the attack
(EPA)
During Hanukkah, in homes and public places, a candle from a particular nine-branched candelabra, the hanukkiah, is lit every evening: one more light every day, until the darkness is symbolically overcome. Alongside the religious rite, the celebration also has a family and joyful character: meals are shared, gifts are exchanged, children are involved in the story of memory and hope.
This is why the attack that hit the Hanukkah celebration in Sydney takes on an even more dramatic significance. It was not just an act of violence, but a gesture that he killed innocent people in a context of celebration, of prayer and sharing.
