Bondi Beach Shooting: San Francisco Jewish leader Moshe Langer was classmates with Australian Rabbi Eli Schlanger gunned down
The Bay Area's Jewish community gathered for the first night of Hanukkah, but there is sadness, along with safety concerns, in the wake of the deadly shooting in Australia.
There was a Hanukkah gathering in Union Square near the city's giant menorah on Sunday.
"Hanukkah is all about bringing people together in community, just spreading the light in a world that can be very dark," said Nikki Childs from San Francisco.
That darkness surfaced Sunday when a gunman targeted the Jewish community gathered for a Hanukkah celebration on Australia's Bondi Beach, killing more than a dozen people.
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"Our hearts are heavy right now. My dear friend Rabbi Eli Schlanger was gunned down in cold blood in Sydney," said Rabbi Moshe Langer from Chabad of San Francisco.
Langer was remembering his classmate from rabbinical seminary in Brooklyn, New York.
Schlanger sent a Rosh Hashanah wish last September on his Instagram page.
"Since I heard the news and started talking about him, it's been difficult. I'm getting emotional, not because I knew him personally but that could have been me," Langer said.
Langer said security for Sunday's menorah lighting has been stepped up. We saw an increased presence of SFPD officers around Union Square on Sunday afternoon.
In a statement to ABC7 News, the department says it's monitoring the horrific attack in Australia, saying that hatred and antisemitism can never be tolerated.: "The SFPD has increased patrols at places of worship and Jewish events throughout the city. Our officers remain vigilant and are prepared to respond to any emergency."
A security guard was posted at a Hanukkah event at Temple Sherith Isreal in San Francisco, where rabbi Jessica Graf condemned the violence.
"We have to stop the antisemitism, which is rampant and anti-Jewish sentiment. We need to turn dialogue and find a peaceful solution for everybody," Graf said.
Jewish leaders say the first night of the holiday is bringing light and hope.
"Our answer to darkness like this -- when you have a terrorist committing acts of violence -- is to bring more light and redouble our efforts," Langer said.
