Last week, just as Chanukah was about to begin for us here in the United States, a tragedy unfolded in Sydney, Australia. As Jewish people were celebrating the holiday under a warm sky on the shores of Bondi Beach, terrorists mounted a surprise attack, killing 15. Among the dead are a Holocaust survivor and a 10-year-old girl. We reached out to our congregational rabbis for words of reflection and comfort. Below are the names of the victims, followed by the rabbis' comments:
Mathilda Bee, age 10
Edith Brutman
Dan Elkayam, 27
Boris Gurman, age 69
Sofia Gurman, age 61
Alexander Kleytman, 87
Peter Meagher
Reuven Morrison, 62
Rabbi Yaakov Levitan
Rabbi Eli Schlanger, age 41
Boris Tetleroyd
Adam Smyth, age 50
Tibor Weitzen, age 78
Marika Pogany, age 82
Rabbi Joshua Kullock of West End Synagogue:
At the conclusion of morning minyan with our Beit Miriam students, I shared these three reflections:
1. Words matter. They carry weight and shape reality. What happened in Sydney does not exist in a vacuum; it is directly connected to the relentless and reckless calls to “Globalize the Intifada," and to the refusal to acknowledge that anti-Zionist rhetoric so often ends with Jews dead around the world.
2. The Jewish people is an interconnected family. I happen to have a second degree of separation from people who were at the Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach—even though they live on the opposite side of the world and we have never met. They were celebrating Hanukkah just as we will be celebrating Hanukkah this evening. The pain we feel today is called peoplehood: when our brothers and sisters ache, we ache with them.
3. Hanukkah is about bringing light into dark times—not only because of winter (in the northern hemisphere), but in defiance of those who trade in hatred and violence. In the face of rising antisemitism, we are reminded that our commitment is to life, continuity, and hope, and that we will continue the work of building a better, kinder world. Our resolve will be stronger than our fear. Our determination to flourish will be deeper than their urge to destroy.
May the memories of those murdered in this terrorist attack be a blessing, and may the lights of Hanukkah bring comfort, strength, and the hope of better days ahead. Am Yisrael Chai!
The Jewish Observer is published by The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville and made possible by funds raised in the Jewish Federation Annual Campaign. Become a supporter today.
Rabbi Saul Strosberg of Sherith Israel:
The only thing I can say at this time is that the fact that we are feeling so much pain in the wake of this tragedy, is not just a testament to our humanity, but a testament to the close bond that every Jew feels with the other. And this is a feeling, and a bond, and a reality, and really a blessing, that we must never take for granted. The blessing of being part of the Jewish people, and what it means, not only to care about others, but to know how much others care about us.
Rabbi Michael Danziger of The Temple:
We join our hearts with each other, and with brothers and sisters in Australia and around the world as, again, baseless hatred has destroyed a whole world with each precious life taken. The hope and joy of this Chanukah are forced to mingle with sadness and grief. And still we will sing, kindle, hug, and rejoice. Something of that is in the very nature of this holiday, and in our nature. We light flames in the dark. We celebrate together with warmth when it’s cold out. Darkness never ceases, but neither does our ability to lessen it. With love and kindness, righteousness and mercy, commitment and courage, we can bathe the world in light, and recall the words of Megilat Esther and Havdalah: La Yehudim haitah orah v’simcha v’sason vikar. Ken tih’yeh lanu. – The Jews had light and joy, strength and gladness. So shall it be with us!
Rabbi Itzchok and Esther Tiechtel of Chabad of Nashville:
This Chanukah, our hearts are heavy with sorrow.
We all awoke to the devastating news of a violent terror attack at a Chanukah celebration in Bondi Beach, Australia. Innocent lives were lost simply because they were Jewish. We mourn deeply with the victims, their families, and the Jewish community there. The pain is real, shared, and profound.
The Jewish people are one entity—many bodies, but one collective soul. When one community is wounded, we all feel it.
It is chilling to realize that this attack was meant to coincide with what would have been the first public menorah lighting of Chanukah—an attempt to spread fear, to make Jews think twice about gathering, singing, or shining openly.
Chanukah teaches that the Jewish response to darkness is not despair but resolve. We answer hatred with holiness. We respond to violence with values. We counter darkness with light.
This year’s Chanukah celebration is a statement.
By coming together, lighting the menorah, and celebrating publicly, we declare that terror will not define us, and fear will not drive us away. Every person who shows up adds another flame, another voice, another victory of light over darkness.
Each of us is an ambassador of light, charged with bringing goodness to our families, our neighborhoods, and our city. This mission is clearest on Chanukah, when we place the menorah facing outward—unbowed, undeterred, and unashamed.
We gather tonight not despite the darkness—but because of it. To replace fear with faith, dread with determination, and hatred with light.
The Jewish people are alive, strong, and united. Our mission is eternal. Our light is unstoppable.
Wishing everyone a safe, meaningful, and powerful Chanukah.
Rabbi Michael Shulman of The Temple:
Our hearts are heavy as we absorb the news of the terror attack in Australia targeting Jews simply because they are Jewish. Even from across the world, the pain feels close to home. Moments like this remind us that antisemitism is not distant or abstract—it is real, it is frightening, and it touches our global Jewish family in deeply personal ways. We grieve for those killed, we hold their loved ones in our prayers, and we stand in solidarity with Jewish communities everywhere who are once again forced to confront fear and uncertainty. At The Temple, we remain committed to the safety and security of our community and will continue to assess our circumstances with care.
And yet, we are also about to celebrate Chanukah—a time that asks something courageous of us. For generations, Chanukah has taught us that even a small flame can push back despair, that light kindled with intention can grow, spread, and endure. Especially now, when the world feels unsteady, we are called not to retreat, but to respond by bringing more light into the world.
At The Temple, we lived these values powerfully this past weekend. As the pictures below show, we came together in song that filled our sanctuary with warmth and hope. We gathered across generations, lifting one another through music, learning, and shared moments of joy. We rolled up our sleeves to help others, turning compassion into action, and we raised our voices with courage and pride—choosing presence, connection, and community. In these moments, we did more than gather; we created light. We reminded one another, and the world, that we are a community of heart, strength, and an unwavering commitment to goodness.
And Chanukah reminds us that goodness is not passive. It is something we actively sow, again and again, even when it feels difficult. As we light our candles in the week ahead, may we dedicate them not only to memory, but to purpose: to standing together, to caring for one another, and to continuing to build a community rooted in hope, justice, and love.
May the lights of Chanukah bring comfort to aching hearts, strength to those who are afraid, and renewed resolve to all of us. Together, may we continue to be a source of light—for one another, for our community, and for our world.
Rabbis Laurie and Flip Rice of Congregation Micah:
What is there to say? It’s a horrible tragedy. As always, the outreach from our interfaith partners locally and around the country is heartwarming. The Maccabees did not apologize for their actions, and they were seen as vigilantes, in a way. Not unlike Israel today. The world expects that we constantly apologize for defending ourselves. What other people is asked to do that? I hope that in this season of rededication, we as a Jewish community will be even more committed to living our Judaism out loud, proudly, that the Nashville Jewish community will be emboldened by the light of the candles we light this week and that, like the Maccabees, we will do what we must to safeguard our people and our traditions.
