A massacre in Bondi

Since the beginning of the Jewish people, we have experienced miracles and tragedies.

We escaped Egypt, watched the sea miraculously split allowing us to pass through, while drowning our enemies, and came to the foot of Mount Sinai where G-d revealed Himself to the Jewish people.

And right after that, we made a golden calf.

Our history has been replete with happy events and sad events. It almost seems like they go hand-in-hand. It’s sad. And the sadness is sometimes in the midst of intense happiness.

Miraculously Israel defeated enemies on seven fronts during the last two years. On October 7 Hezbollah and Iran did not join Hamas on that day of massacre. Had they done so it’s unthinkable what could’ve happened. But miraculously they did not.

Two years of standing up to the world. Two years of phenomenal victories. Two years as we watched the most powerful enemies dissipate.

Two amazing years. And then a tragedy in Australia.

How do we understand things like this? We don’t. We just can’t.

We’re not G-d. We don’t know why He does what He does.

But we believe that it’s for our ultimate benefit, and that one day we will understand.

As it says in Isaiah (12; 1) “I will thank you G-d that you were angry at me.”

Notice the future tense: I will thank you. Because right now we just can’t thank the Almighty, because we can’t possibly comprehend how the Australian massacre and so many wounded happened — while celebrating the menorah lighting. We don’t understand how it could possibly be for our benefit. We believe it, but we can’t understand it.

Hanukkah is the time when the light dispels the darkness. We will persevere. We will triumph over our enemies. And we will continue to successfully illuminate the world with a message of freedom and light.

May the Almighty bring Redemption now, so that we will finally be able to thank Him, as the dead rise and become alive, and as our mouths will be filled with laughter forever.