This morning, we wake to a world that feels increasingly unsteady. Yesterday brought the devastating shooting at Brown University during finals week. Today, we are confronted with the horrific murder of eleven Jews on Bondi Beach who had gathered to celebrate the beginning of Chanukah. We are shaken, heartsick, and afraid.
The tragedy at Brown reminds us that violence can strike anywhere, shattering the ordinary rhythms of life. The attack in Bondi cuts even deeper. Jews were targeted simply for being Jews, publicly, joyfully, visibly living our tradition.
We grieve deeply for all the victims and hold their families and loved ones in our prayers. We also acknowledge honestly the fear that ripples through our own Jewish community in moments like this. These attacks do not happen in isolation; they land on centuries of Jewish memory and trauma, reminding us how quickly joy can be shattered by violence, how vulnerable Jewish life can feel even in places that seem safe. It is natural to feel afraid - it is the honest response of a people who know our history.
And yet, this moment also calls us to remember what Chanukah has always been about. Chanukah is not a children’s holiday about gifts or fried food, beautiful as those traditions are. It is a story rooted in historical reality, where forces sought to suppress Jewish practice, identity, and ways of life. That threat to Jewish life is not just ancient history; it is painfully present today. This truth is part of what makes this moment so heavy.
But Chanukah also teaches us something else. The word Chanukah means ‘dedication’ - and re-dedication. In the face of violence and hatred, our tradition does not tell us to retreat into darkness. It calls us to recommit to Jewish life, Jewish values, community, and one another.
As we light our chanukiyot tonight and throughout the holiday, let us do so with even greater intention. Let each flame be an act of defiance against hatred and despair. Let it be a recommitment to the safety and security of Jewish communities here in Los Angeles and around the world, and equally, a recommitment to living our best Jewish values - compassion, justice, courage, love of learning, and sacred responsibility for one another.
In this moment of grief and fear, we do what Jews have always done. We gather. We remember. We light candles. And we choose, again and again, to bring more light into the world.
May the memories of those who were murdered be a blessing. May we hold one another close. And may this Chanukah strengthen our resolve to live Jewishly, openly, and proudly, now and always.
B’shalom,
Rabbi Joel NIckerson