On this day, when we will light the first candle of Chanukah, Jews across North America are waking up to the news of the attack on Jews celebrating Chanukah in a public place in Sydney, Australia. While the details are still emerging, we know so far that eleven of our precious brothers and sisters have been murdered, and many have been wounded. Among the murdered is Rabbi Eli Schlanger z”l, a Chabad Shaliach. May the memories of the dead be remembered for a blessing, may the injured receive a complete and speedy refuah shlema, may the mourners be comforted among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem, and may the entire Australian Jewish community be comforted in their grief.

There are several steps we must all take immediately.

First, all of our Federation-led community security initiatives are on high alert and working closely with every Jewish institution to make sure that all events planned for today and the coming days are protected by the highest security standards. It is up to each and every one of us to ensure that every community organization is in touch with their local security directors and is following these protocols. We thank all the local law enforcement officials and community volunteers who help protect our community and urge the highest level of vigilance today and throughout Chanukah. Please see the newly released Community Guide for Event Security for further guidance.

Second, we must insist that local officials, local media, and the entire civic leadership of the broader communities in which we live make it clear that the attacks in Sydney were a deliberate terrorist act targeting Jews as they celebrated the first night of Chanukah and must be loudly and clearly called out as antisemitism. There can be no equivocating or uncertainty.

Third, while we will continue to do everything in our power to protect the safety of every Jew and every community, the primary responsibility for the security of every American and Canadian in their homes, in their places of worship and in their communal gatherings, including when we gather in public spaces to celebrate Jewish holidays, belongs to the government. Our government officials at every level must know that these threats are real, and that we hold them responsible and accountable for protecting our community during this holiday of Chanukah and always.

Tonight and throughout the coming eight days, let us light our Chanukah candles and place them proudly in our windows. The essence of the holiday is the fight of the Maccabees, a small but determined minority, to stand up against the forces that wanted to force our people to abandon our faith. When we bless the Chanukah candles we remind ourselves of these events that happened in that ancient time but that could also happen today – bayamim hahem bazman hazeh. We are standing up today as the Maccabees did in ancient times and we are not afraid – we will grow and flourish here in North America, in Israel and around the world.