Those who try to extinguish our light will fail

On Sunday evening, Jewish children, parents, and grandparents gathered on the famous Bondi Beach in Sydney to light the first Hanukkah candle together. This picturesque scene of life, love, and light was emblematic of Australia’s vibrant Jewish community. It was this beautiful gathering that was so brutally targeted by two radical Islamist terrorists seething with hatred.

As we mourn the devastating loss of our 15 dear sisters and brothers and pray for the recovery of the dozens of others who were injured, the ancient story of Hanukkah serves as a source of comfort, inspiration, and direction at this moment of searing pain for Jews around the world.

The Hanukkah story tells of a stubborn Jewish minority who stood up to a mighty empire to fight for their freedom. It celebrates the triumph of light over darkness. And it’s a story of survival for the ages. 

Two thousand years later, this story is echoed in events unfolding before our own eyes. 

Let us cast our minds back two years ago. After the horrors of October 7th, more than 250 children, women, and men were held hostage in Hamas’s dungeons below Gaza. Starved, tortured, and abused, those still alive were fighting for their survival. It was a moment of overwhelming darkness for us all.

Iran’s empire of evil – like every force that has risen in each generation to try and destroy the Jewish people – would not break our spirit. This was a moment to unite and fight for our freedom.

Our sons and daughters in uniform – the brave modern Maccabees of the Israel Defense Forces – fought heroically on the battlefield. The unwavering families of the hostages cried out unceasingly for their loved ones’ freedom. And in every corner of the world, Jews, friends of Israel, and decent people prayed, rallied, and campaigned relentlessly for the release of the hostages.

As a result of these superhuman efforts, all but one of our hostages are now home. Many of the faces of the women and men, whom we knew only from their posters, have miraculously appeared before us, lighting up our souls as they reunited with their families and friends.

At the same time, our hearts are broken for the families of the hostages who did not come home alive. Their pain is our pain, and we will stand by them forever. 

We also cannot forget that Staff Sgt. Ran Gvili, a heroic police officer who fell in battle on October 7th, remains in Hamas captivity. We must all renew our call for Ran to be returned home for dignified burial immediately.

Yet as we reflect on the miracle of the return home of our brothers and sisters, we also confront a deeply troubling reality beyond Israel’s borders. As the October 7th massacre in southern Israel was still ongoing, Jewish communities around the world began to experience a vicious wave of hatred. Institutional antisemitism, Holocaust inversion, conspiracies left and right, Jew-hatred platformed on social media, and moral bankruptcy masquerading as social justice have all disturbingly increased across the Western world. The deadly terror attack in Sydney this week demonstrates where these dangerous trends can lead. 

To our brothers and sisters in Australia and to Jewish communities everywhere facing this hatred: please know that here in Israel, we feel and share your pain. Just as you have stood with us, fought for our hostages, and supported our soldiers, we stand together with you, shoulder-to-shoulder, in the fight against this violent hatred.

The Hanukkah story teaches us that even in the darkest of times and in the darkest of places, our light never goes out. We are an eternal people – strong, resilient, and united.

Just like all those before them who rose up against the Jewish people, the terrorists who tried to extinguish our light in Sydney will also fail. In Australia, Israel, and every corner of the globe, Jews will continue lighting the Hanukkah candles. We will continue to bring light into the world and overcome this terrible darkness.

This is the story of Hanukkah. This is the strength of our people.