‘Light in darkness’: Denver Jewish community shares message of Hanukkah following Australia mass shooting
On the first night of Hanukkah, as candles flickered on the windowsills of homes, members of Denver’s Jewish community gathered in Cherry Creek for a menorah lighting that ignited a renewed call for safety and solidarity.
That’s after two gunmen targeted a menorah lighting ceremony at Sydney’s Bondi Beach in Australia on Sunday, killing at least 15 people and injuring over 40, according to The Associated Press.
The shooting sent shockwaves through Jewish communities worldwide. In Denver, as over 100 people gathered along Fillmore Street in Cherry Creek, this year’s message of Hanukkah carried a lot more weight.
“Today, we celebrate being together, being proud Jews, and our answer to the enemy and darkness,” Chabad of Cherry Creek Rabbi Yisroel Engel said before they lit the first of eight candles.
“The message of Hanukkah is we have to add more light because light dispells the darkness,” the rabbi said.
Engel shared the moment with his son, Rabbi Shmuly Engel.
“We each have the ability to stand strong and proud and bring more light and recognize that we cannot settle for anything, or any evil, for any darkness, we have to push forward, be proud of who we are,” Rabbi Shmuly Engel said.
On Sunday evening, hundreds of people of all ages participated in a number of activities including a scavenger hunt, games for kids, activities, potato pancake “latkes” and entertainment.
Most of all, some said Hanukkah is also about spending time with family and community.
“We need more miracles our in society,” Solomon Odenz, who celebrated first night with his son, said of what he wants this year for Hanukkah.
“We are divided as a society,” he added, “having more and more of these events hopefully will get us more closer. We need to protect each other.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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