BRIEFING ROOM
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PRESSING STATEMENTS
Statement on Bondi Beach Hanukkah Shooting
Hanukkah, a holiday meant to be filled with joy, has become darker after the horrific shooting at Bondi Beach in Australia. Tonight, when we light our Hanukkah menorah, we will do so in remembrance of the shooting victims — our joy tinged with sadness.
We are living a modern-day Hanukkah story in which Jewish haters want to destroy us. But no matter what, they will not succeed. Through the ages, and even in modern times, we have persevered. Over and over again, the spirit of the Jewish people is continually tested, but it has not broken.
Jewish hatred can now be found everywhere, even in countries that are oceans and continents away from our city streets and college campuses. We are not surprised by these horrific attacks. The only surprise is when they will happen. Words matter. When hate is not strongly and firmly denounced, it grows and can eventually manifest in violence.
Anti-Jewish hate has grown louder and more widespread, and we are listening. We hear the threats; we raise the alarm, but it appears that the world is deaf to our pleas and cries to put an end to it.
But we will never be silent. We will not look away. We most certainly will not allow hatred to define this moment or our future. We will mourn and then rise up, rededicating ourselves to the challenge ahead: ending hate wherever and however it occurs.
May the memories of the victims be for a blessing. May we continue to find the strength to persevere and fight evil until we finally live in a world of peace, understanding, and light.
WHAT'S ON OUR MIND
Meaning in the Menorah
December 12, 2025
Sunday at sunset, we will light the first Hanukkah candle. I’ll be using my parents' menorah as I have done year after year. This menorah holds memories for me as thick as the layers of wax nestled in its grooves. Growing up, my two sisters and I would bicker over who got to light the last candle.
On that final night we each chose our favorite color of candle to place in the menorah. Then the three of us lit the candles together, hands wrapped around each other's. We would stand quietly in the glow, watching the flames and wax melt down. Looking back, those moments felt simple and carefree.
Today, being together isn’t always easy. Families are spread across cities and even continents. Political and ideological differences separate others. Yet the menorah reminds us that each light can stand on its own but shines brightest when the candles burn together. That is the power of its beauty.
Hanukkah teaches us the timeless lesson of coming together to fight evil against all odds, to have faith in one another, and never to stop believing that we can succeed if we are one. The Maccabees chose to stay united even though they may have had personal differences. When they acted with a sense of a greater purpose, they were able to defeat their enemy.
Today, we need that reminder. We are living through a moment when our values, our community, and even our sense of safety feel tested. Anti-Israel hatred has grown into widespread Jew-hatred. Violence has become more common as a way to settle political differences. ICE agents patrol our streets, causing fear and terror, similar to Nazi Germany. Our president, acting like an autocrat, is eroding the Constitution with each signature on executive orders.
We must stand strong and united like modern Maccabees fighting for good and always seeking the light. Our courage must guide us to fight for what is right, while we remember our values. With your support, 2026 can be brighter as we work to elect candidates who will light up democracy across the country.
I look forward to adding another layer of memories to my menorah this year. I hope you will do the same.
Happy Hanukkah. And as always, thank you for your continued support of JAC.
Hollis Wein
Executive Director
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