In a powerful display of resilience, hundreds of community members gathered at Westmount City Hall on Monday evening, December 15, 2025, for the second night of Hanukkah. The annual celebration was shadowed by grief, transformed into a vigil to honor the 15 lives lost in a mass shooting at a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach, Australia, just one day prior.
A Community's Defiant Response to Tragedy
Rabbi Lisa Grushcow of Temple Emanu-El-Beth-Sholom was steadfast in her decision that the Westmount ceremony must proceed. Addressing the somber crowd, she reflected on the horrific events overseas. "Yesterday, when the first light was lit at Bondi Beach, it was a horror. It was our worst nightmare," Rabbi Grushcow stated. "And it was something that was, sadly, not entirely surprising."
Her message, however, quickly pivoted to one of unity and hope. "But what I want to bear witness to tonight, is that here in Westmount, and I am confident to say all around the world, that there are Jewish people and their non-Jewish neighbours coming together to say, we have more light than any darkness," she proclaimed to the assembled mourners and supporters.
The Enduring Symbolism of Light
The attack in Australia, characterized as anti-semitic, has sent shockwaves through Jewish communities globally, casting a pall over the start of the eight-day Festival of Lights. Hanukkah commemorates the second-century BCE victory of the Jewish people over forces that sought to suppress their religion, a story where a small amount of oil miraculously burned for eight days.
The central ritual of publicly displaying the Hanukkah candles—often in a window or outdoors—serves as a timeless metaphor for the triumph of light over darkness. Rabbi Grushcow emphasized this core tenet, telling attendees, "The meaning of this holiday is to be proud of who we are, to add light wherever we are." She noted that while the event is always warm, this year it was exceptionally full, a testament to the community's collective need to gather.
The ceremony included the lighting of a candle by Jacob Finesilver, a moment of quiet solemnity amidst the shared grief.
Solidarity in the Face of Hate
The tragedy compelled many, like longtime Westmount resident Stephanie Friedman, to attend the city hall gathering for the first time. Friedman, a 53-year resident, felt a powerful need to stand with her community following the news from Bondi Beach. "I didn't even know it existed, but now I paid attention," she said, highlighting how the attack had galvanized local engagement and solidarity.
The event in Westmount stands as one of many vigils and gatherings held worldwide as Jewish communities and their allies confront the painful reality of anti-semitic violence. It underscored a dual purpose: to mourn the innocent lives taken in a senseless act and to defiantly continue the ancient tradition of public celebration, refusing to let fear extinguish faith or community spirit.
As the candles flickered against the December night outside Westmount City Hall, they served not only as a memorial but as a living promise—a declaration that the community's light would persist, undimmed by darkness.
