On the heels of a horrific attack in Australia, Waterloo Region’s Jewish community is standing together for one of their most important religious celebrations. A menorah lighting was held in Waterloo Public Square on Sunday night to mark the start of Hanukkah, an eight-day ‘festival of lights’ that includes special prayers. Sunday’s event came as the community was still coming to grips with an attack at Australia’s Bondi Beach. It is considered to be the country’s worst mass shooting in almost 30 years. Police have accused a father and son of killing 15 people, and wounding dozens more, during a Hanukkah event. Although the attack happened on the other side of the world, the impact could be felt in Waterloo as the community gathered for what should be a joyful occasion. “It was definitely a bittersweet moment. Mixed feelings,” Rabbi Moshe Goldman, Jewish rabbi said. “A lot of tension in the air. A lot of grief in the air. But at the same time, it’s Hanukkah and the only response we can possibly have, the only real option on the table, is to go forward with all our plans to continue celebrating.” Although distance may have physically separated the attack from local communities, the grief is global. “The fact that it’s the other side of the world doesn’t mean the same thing it used to 50 years ago, 100 years ago. Everybody’s connected. People can travel easily. If it happened there, it could happen here. There’s a real risk. We’re aware of the risk. We’re not naïve,” Rabbi Goldman said. Local celebrations will not be waylaid by the attack and will provide a light in dark times. “The alternative is that terrorism wins,” Rabbi Goldman said. “The alternative is that ideologies and movements that would like to see Jews disappear are victorious. It’s never going to happen.” On Monday afternoon, Rabbi Goldman lit a menorah outside Cambridge City Hall. He said Hanukkah itself speaks to the community’s continued response as a victory of the Jews revolting against an oppressor and the celebration of overcoming odds. “They need to learn from history. There’s a long list of haters. There’s a long list of holidays that the Jewish people have of overcoming those who wish to exterminate the Jews. So, learn a little history. Accept the fact that Jews are here to stay and we’ll all get along. It’s not hard,” Rabbi Goldman said. Another menorah lighting is scheduled at Kitchener City Hall on Dec. 21. Rabbi Goldman said there are still many threats and risks the community must keep a careful eye out for, but every single person who comes out to a Hanukkah event, Jewish or not, by virtue of standing there is helping to defeat terrorism and what it aims to achieve.
