The Jewish community in Melbourne is celebrating Hanukkah this year with a renewed sense of purpose, as the festival of lights coincides with a rise in antisemitic incidents. The Adass Israel synagogue, recently damaged in a firebombing, will hold its celebrations in a temporary location.
The story of Hanukkah is based on events that took place in ancient times, but for Jews living in Melbourne , the festival’s meaning is particularly poignant this year.in Ripponlea, Jewish leaders say their festival of lights is much needed at this moment. This year, Hanukkah starts on Christmas Day, beginning on Wednesday evening. Although it always occurs towards the end of the year, it is relatively uncommon for the festival to coincide so neatly with Christmas.
Adass Israel synagogue board member Benjamin Klein said it had been a difficult time for his community since their place of prayer was setChildren at his synagogue mark Hanukkah by singing songs in a choir, and they receive Hanukkah “gelt” (money in Yiddish) and gifts. Klein said his congregation was unable to light their candelabra, called a menorah, in their synagogue, which was badly damaged in the fire. “But at the same time does symbolise light and does symbolise that we will be able to come through again,” he said.This year, the Adass Israel congregation will hold their Hanukkah festivities in a temporary synagogue.The firebombing came after a rise in antisemitic incidents in Australia. Over the past year, Klein said, he had personally experienced an increase in antisemitic abuse. He said that every fortnight or so people had shouted antisemitic slurs like “dirty Jew” as walked to synagogue with his children. “I never experienced it before.” But he insisted these instances of antisemitism had made him more determined to continue his religious practices and traditions.Hanukkah celebrates a revolt by a group of Jewish rebels, known as the Maccabees, who fought back against a Greek-Syrian king who had sought to suppress Jewish practices more than 2000 years ago.The festival commemorates the re-dedication of the second temple in Jerusalem after it was desecrated. When the Maccabees went to relight the temple’s menorah, they found only enough oil to last one day
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