Communities across the United States, including those in Bexley, Solon, and Cleveland, Ohio, have been lighting the first candles of Hanukkah in the shadow of mourning. In a poignant blend of tradition and tribute, these gatherings on Sunday honored the victims of a devastating attack on Bondi Beach, Australia, which coincided with the festival's first night.
At Bexley, attendees dedicated their first candle to those lost in the tragedy, as reported by ABC 6. Rabbi Areyah Kaltmann, who hails from Australia himself, grieved for his friend Rabbi Eli Schlanger, one of the attack's victims, and proclaimed, "the only solution to this horrible tragedy is to add, like Chanukah, every night we light another candle." Despite the horrors recounted of the beach turned to "carnage and a warfare," Kaltmann called for an increase in acts of goodness and kindness as a response to such darkness.
Meanwhile, in Northeast Ohio, the Jewish community at Solon Chabad struck a similar chord, undeterred by the overseas violence. In an interview with FOX 8, Rabbi Zushe Greenberg expressed his determination, "We will celebrate, and we will continue to go and celebrate even more." He also noted the sizable turnout for the event, especially among young people, underscoring the community's resilience.
Security concerns were heightened in light of the attack, with Erika Rudin-Luria, president of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, acknowledging the deep impact felt locally. The Federation, which invests substantially in security measures, has been liaising closely with law enforcement to ensure safety during the celebrations, as detailed in a statement acquired by Cleveland 19. "Our security has been in touch today with all the local law enforcement — also with the FBI," Rudin-Luria said. Despite the heightened vigilance, the spirit of Hanukkah's hope and light continued to shine through the traditional songs and candle lighting at the Maltz Museum's gathering.
