Local Hanukkah celebrations continue in face of Australian attack

Jewish leaders in South Jersey are among those reacting to an attack in Australia that left 15 people dead.

Leaders say the attack that was meant to instill fear has, in some ways, strengthened people’s desire to celebrate their faith. Menorah lightings for the second day of Hanukkah are among the events.

Chabad Lubavitch, of Camden and Burlington Counties, is sharing a list of holiday activities happening in the area in celebration of Hanukkah. Program director Laizer Mangel said, “We try to pack in as much as possible into the eight days of Hanukkah.”

The group’s celebrations included a menorah car parade in Cherry Hill, which drew a large turnout on Sunday. “So many people came to celebrate this great holiday of unity, of oneness to goodness,” Rabbi Mendel Mangel said.

But the festivities come amid grief after two gunmen in Australia killed 15 people attending an event on the first day of Hanukkah.

“To hear that evil people could just take 15 lives away, it was crushing,” Rabbi Mangel said.

In response, the Anti-Defamation League’s Philadelphia office spent the day checking in with local organizations as they prepared to continue with scheduled Hanukkah events.

ADL Philadelphia Senior Regional Director Andrew Goretsky said the focus is on “staying vigilant with security procedures.

Continuing to review those and making sure individuals are connecting with law enforcement.”

Laizer Mangel said organizers are committed to “making sure our events go on with added security and with the police departments of our local municipalities having our back.”

Security has become a routine part of Jewish events and worship, which the ADL says reflects a broader trend.

“We know antisemitism is an issue globally. We’ve seen a massive rise since October 7 [terror attack],” Goretsky said.

Still, he emphasized the importance of resilience. “We need to still be proud of who we are and celebrate our traditions,” he said.

Rabbi Mangel echoed that sentiment, saying attempts to intimidate the community have had the opposite effect.

“What they wanted us to try to cancel our celebration,” he said. “I believe people here and around the world have doubled and tripled [participation in Hanukkah celebrations.] People who reached out to us and said, ‘We want a menorah,’ for the first time, we want to light the candle.”

Chabad leaders say they intend to keep the light of Hanukkah shining. As Laizer Mangel put it, the community plans to go “bigger and better in the face of evil this year.”

The ADL said it will continue supporting local organizations as they review security protocols and reminded community members that the organization is a resource for anyone who experiences hate.