Hanukkah celebration in Melbourne’s Federation Square draws in hundreds
Hundreds gathered in Melbourne’s Federation Square to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah, which coincided with Christmas Day for the first time in 19 years.
Hundreds gathered in Melbourne’s Federation Square to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah, which coincided with Christmas Day for the first time in 19 years.
The celebration came amid a time of heightened anti-Semitism and the recent firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue.
While the Jewish community has expressed fear and anxiety, Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann from the Ark Centre, which organised the event, said: “We don’t want to feel like this.”
“We’re coming out in force and we feel that it’s important to come out en-masse to light the menorah and to show how proud we are as Jews,” he said.
The event was supported by a diverse group of Australians as the overlap of the two holy celebrations saw different faith groups congregating in the square. Speakers from the Victorian Multicultural Commission called for diversity and inclusion.
“There’s just so many people who are coming from a multitude of communities, in support of the Jewish community,” said Rabbi Kaltmann. Different multicultural leaders had told him “we want to back you guys in” as they came to show solidarity.
He said that in Australia “everybody just wants a fair go and to live and to let live” and that is why public displays of faith and culture are important. By publicly bringing together multicultural communities to light the menorah he said it would help protect the “multiculturalism and diversity that we cherish and champion”.
Peter Dutton also weighed in on the fears that many in the Jewish community were feeling as they head into the festival.
“This Hanukkah, there is much that will weigh heavily on the minds of Jewish people in Israel, around the world, and here in Australia,” the Opposition Leader said.
He cited “anti-Semitic incidents that have plagued Western democracies” as moments that would overshadow the celebrations.
He went on to recall that the origins of Hanukkah, the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem and the lighting of the menorah, as a story of victory over oppression and the importance of hope.
“In that spirit, may the ordeals of the last 14 months be all the more reason for Australia’s Jewish community to commemorate Hanukkah as a confident statement of your solidarity, strength, faith and hope,” he said.
Rabbi Kaltmann said that the Jewish community expects the government to “really come out swinging” with serious action to protect them in 2025.
“Enough talk, now we need to see some action, and it’s up to the Prime Minister to lead,” he said.
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