Hundreds of people were laughing, singing and enjoying Chanukah last week in Sydneyâs Martin Place as part of a giant menorah-lighting celebration. For a holiday event, that wouldnât seem so out of the ordinary. Yet it was a drastic counterpoint to the muted and somber observances last year after a terror attack in the square led to the cancelation of public events there.
On Dec. 15, 2014, a lone gunman stormed a cafe in Martin Placeâa key business district in Sydneyâtaking workers and patrons hostage. In the ensuing hours, two hostages were killed before the standoff came to an end.
âEach year, we light the menorah in Martin Place,â said Rabbi Elimelech Levy, director of Chabad Youth New South Wales in Bondi Beach. âLast year, our event was scheduled for Dec. 17. The siege took place just two days earlier, which caused our event to be canceled. This year we wanted to make a bigger event to shine more light where darkness had made its mark.â
And a bigger event is exactly what Chabad of New South Wales did. Joined by dozens of politicians, community leaders and families from throughout the city of Sydney, they came to share in the beauty of Chanukah, to hear inspiring and uplifting words, and to remember Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson.
Members of Parliament David Clarke and Tanya Plibersek lit the shamash (the utility candle) and the candles on the giant menorah, respectively.
There was also a musical performance by popular Jewish singer Eli Marcus who was accompanied by the Niasoff Band. The reaction to the concert, reports Levy, was âso uplifting that it went on for an hour longer than originally planned.â
âWe wanted people to come and have a powerful Jewish experience,â he said. âWe wanted to show that terrorism cannot win, and that ultimately, good will prevail.â
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