A horrific terror attack at Sydney's famed Bondi beach on Sunday, which left at least 15 people dead, violently disrupted one of the first of 15,000 public menorah lightings planned worldwide to mark the start of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. The annual global celebrations are orchestrated by the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, a branch of Orthodox Hassidic Judaism whose prominent and open community presence has, tragically, made it a repeated target for hate.
What is the Chabad-Lubavitch Movement?
The Chabad-Lubavitch movement is a global Jewish organisation dedicated to strengthening religious and community life. Its roots trace back to the 18th century in the Russian town of Lubavitch. The name "Chabad" is a Hebrew acronym for chochmah (wisdom), binah (comprehension), and da'at (knowledge), reflecting its philosophical pillars.
Despite facing persecution under the Soviet Union and near annihilation during the Holocaust, the movement rebuilt from New York. Today, it boasts a network of roughly 6,000 emissaries and 3,500 "Chabad houses" worldwide, which function as synagogues and community centres. While deeply traditional in appearance—with male followers often in black-and-white ultra-Orthodox attire and women covering their hair—the movement is known for its non-judgmental, open approach, focusing on an individual's inherent goodness rather than strict observance.
The Bondi Beach Menorah Lighting Tradition
Since the early 1970s, Chabad has organised public menorah lightings in city squares and parks globally, encouraging Jews to celebrate Hanukkah. The eight-day festival commemorates the "miracle of light in the temple" over 2,000 years ago. The Sydney event, in an area home to a large Jewish community, is typically a festive family occasion. This year's gathering, which attracted approximately 1,000 people, featured a petting zoo, face painting, and the distribution of thousands of free jelly doughnuts—a Hanukkah treat. Last year, some 2,500 doughnuts were handed out.
A Sad History of Attacks on the Community
The Bondi assault is not an isolated incident targeting the Chabad-Lubavitch community. There is a long and tragic record of violence against its members. Key attacks include:
- 1994: Lebanese-born Rashid Baz opened fire on a van carrying 15 Chabad students on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, killing one and injuring three others.
- 2008: The Chabad house in Mumbai was a focal point of the terrorist attacks that struck the city. Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, his wife Rivka, and four others were killed after being taken hostage.
- November 2023: An Israeli Chabad rabbi and emissary to Abu Dhabi, Zvi Kogan, was abducted and murdered. Three Uzbek nationals were later sentenced to death for what a court termed a "premeditated murder with terrorist intention."
In the wake of the Bondi beach tragedy, a similar event in Melbourne was cancelled as a mark of respect. However, Chabad leaders reported that other global lightings proceeded, with some even "doubling in size" in defiance of the violence. In Manhattan alone, 25 public Hanukkah celebrations took place. Rabbi Mendel Silberstein of Chabad Lubavitch of Larchmont & Mamaroneck in New York City encapsulated the resilient spirit, stating: "Chanukah teaches that we do not respond to darkness by retreating."
