Members of the Jewish community in Waterloo in southern Ontario celebrated the first night of Hanukkah on Sunday by lighting a massive five-metre-high menorah.
The celebration also had a reflective element following the mass shooting at a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach in Australia earlier in the day, when at least 15 people were killed and at least 38 injured by two gunmen at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
Australian authorities said it was a terrorist attack designed to target the Jewish community.
Sarah Hazan, who attended the menorah gathering in uptown Waterloo, told CBC News that these types of events help people through difficult times.
“I think especially at this time with everything that’s going on in the world, we just like to feel a togetherness and sense of community,” she said.
Rivky Goldman, co-director of the Rohr Chabad Centre for Jewish Life in Waterloo and organizer of the event, said she and her husband, Rabbi Moshe Goldman, felt a “call to action to strengthen the community and not let everybody fall into despair.”
“There wasn’t a minute where we thought we were going to cancel the plans,” she said.
The annual tradition saw people enjoying fried treats, including fried doughnuts filled with jelly called sufganiyot and potato latkes.
“Everything’s fried because of the miracle of oil. So it’s a cardiologist nightmare, but very delicious,” Rabbi Moshe Goldman told CBC K-W’s The Morning Edition on Friday ahead of Sunday’s event.
Oil plays a big role in Hanukkah because the story is that as Jewish rebels fought for their freedom under the tyrant king from Damascus 2,200 years ago, they reclaimed a holy temple in Jerusalem. To rededicate the temple, they needed oil to light the menorah.
They only had enough oil for one night, but miraculously, it lasted for eight days. During those eight days, they were able to obtain new oil and keep an eternal flame lit.
Goldman said the centre hoped to have many people in the community come out to the event, not just those who are Jewish.
Lighting the menorah and placing it in a window is a way to show others about a person’s beliefs. About 17 years ago, the Waterloo Chabad began lighting the large menorah locally, and “that sort of publicity element got supercharged.”
“Even though there was some reluctance, or hesitation or concern about how they would go and what the results would be, time has proven that it has been a wonderful thing for not only the Jewish community, but the broader community,” he said.
Sefora Catana says she attended the event to stay in touch with her Jewish heritage.
“My family does not celebrate because that history was erased during my grandmother’s years,” she said. “She was only one who survived the Holocaust and to keep her memory alive, I celebrate the Jewish holidays.”
Also Sunday evening, a Fun-nukah Fair was also held in front of Guelph’s city hall, and it included treats, entertainment and the lighting of the menorah.
There are no other public events planned for Hanukkah in Guelph, but police spokesperson Scott Tracey said the service is in regular contact with local community and faith groups “and would respond appropriately to any requests to ensure the community feels safe in light of this weekend’s unimaginable tragedy in Australia.”
The Waterloo menorah lighting was the first of four local events for the Waterloo Chabad.
Other menorah lightings are scheduled to be held:
With more events planned over the next week, Waterloo Regional Police Service said on X, formerly Twitter, that officers will be “working closely with faith leaders while taking enhanced proactive measures for planned Hanukkah celebrations.”
“The Waterloo Regional Police Service stands with our entire community in condemning violence in all forms, and we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring safety and security during local celebrations,” police said in the social media post.
“Hate and violence have no place in our communities. If you see something suspicious, please report it immediately.”
