The joyous lights of Hanukkah in Montreal have been dimmed this year by the shadow of tragedy and heightened security concerns. For the city's Jewish community, the holiday season has been marked not only by traditional celebrations but also by a collective response to the horrific mass shooting at a Hanukkah gathering in Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia.
A Global Jewish Family in Mourning
Rabbi Lisa J. Grushcow, senior rabbi at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom in Westmount, reflects on the profound connection felt across the diaspora. The attack in sunny Sydney resonates deeply in snowy Montreal, underscoring the tight-knit nature of Jewish communities worldwide. As Grushcow notes, most Jews are only one or two degrees of separation from those directly affected by such violence.
Jewish identity, she explains, is multifaceted—encompassing religion, ethnicity, and culture—but a fundamental principle binds them together: when one is hurt, all feel pain. The community in Australia, much like Canada's, had long warned that such a day of violence would come. Now, mourning that prediction has come true, Jewish families everywhere grapple with the fear of bringing children to a holiday party and wondering if they will return home safely.
The Limits of Resilience: A Call for Broader Support
While Jewish history is a testament to remarkable resilience and the capacity to thrive despite adversity, Rabbi Grushcow delivers a stark reality check. Constituting just 0.2 per cent of the global population, Jews cannot solve the scourge of antisemitism on their own. The solution, she argues, requires the active partnership and solidarity of their fellow citizens.
For those who may feel unsure of how to help, Grushcow offers clear, actionable steps:
- Show Up in Solidarity: Attend Jewish services and events. Check in on Jewish friends, colleagues, and neighbors to demonstrate they are not alone.
- Support Concrete Action: Advocate for legislation that increases security funding for at-risk communities and ensures hate crimes are treated with the seriousness they deserve. She points to a dangerous escalation from street harassment and graffiti to firebombings and now, massacre.
- Focus Your Response: Condemn antisemitic violence directly, without immediately pivoting to other issues. Just as communities rightly rallied against Islamophobia after the Quebec City and Christchurch mosque attacks, the current moment requires a focused response to the hatred targeting Jews.
Beyond Reaction: Building a Proactive Peace
Rabbi Grushcow emphasizes that increased security, while tragically necessary, represents a reactive "new normal" that is fundamentally unacceptable. No community should live under siege. The critical question she poses to society at large is: What proactive steps will we take when the news cycle inevitably shifts away from Bondi Beach?
The call to action is not for perpetual mourning, but for sustained commitment. The Jewish community, Grushcow states, will continue its 2,000-year tradition of publicly lighting Hanukkah candles, adding light to the world. But for the sake of a shared society, she urges everyone to help ensure it is safer to do so next year. The path forward depends on collective courage and unwavering support from all citizens.
