A Hanukkah Message

Dear Friends of Shabbat with Friends,  

We enter Hanukkah this year with heavy hearts. Like many of you, I was deeply shaken by the terrorist attack on the Sydney/Bondi Beach Jewish community’s Hanukkah celebration in Australia. We pray for the swift and complete recovery of the wounded, and we call upon the authorities to strengthen their efforts to ensure the safety of the Australian Jewish community, which has faced a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents. 

Rabbinic teachings remind us that the lighting of the Menorah over eight nights should be done b’farhesia—in public. Traditionally, this means placing the Menorah in a window facing the street, so that all may see the light of the miracle. The tragic irony is that a public celebration of this festival became the target of terrorists intent on undermining the security of Jews wherever they live. 

This violent attack adds to the pain of the atrocity and reminds us of the real fears Jews face even in open societies that have historically sought to provide safe spaces since the Holocaust. The Tree of Life massacre in Pittsburgh, the firebombing in Boulder, and now the Bondi Beach attack are sobering reminders of increasing Jewish vulnerability. 

At Shabbat with Friends, we remain committed to building community through Shabbat hospitality—sharing our tables, welcoming new faces, and sustaining Jewish values. We will not give up on these traditions or our initiatives. It is vital for the Jewish community to stand together in advocating for a safe, secure public sphere—not only for ourselves, but for all groups in society. 

Let us light our Menorahs tonight, and in the nights to come, in the front windows of our homes. May these lights symbolize our renewed commitment to preserving and strengthening open societies that foster tolerance, mutual respect, and safety. 

Hag Hanukkah Same’ach,

Rabbi Dov Gartenberg

Shabbat with Friends NM