Chicago police elevate presence around Hanukkah 2025 events after Australia shooting at Bondi Beach targeting Jewish community
All over the city, Hanukkah celebrations went ahead on Sunday night.
The celebrations are tinged with sadness, but also defiance. And they are happening under the watchful eye of police, with additional resources committed to ensure that Jewish families can celebrate the first night of a holiday that is ultimately about the triumph of light over darkness.
Young children happily scrambled to gather Hanukkah gelt raining down upon them from the top of a Chicago Fire Department truck in Lakeview. That joy is what Sunday night should be about for Jewish families as they gather with loved ones to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah .
And yet, across the city, celebrations are marred by sadness after a mass shooting in Australia took the lives of at least 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration there.
"It's horrific, sad, a tragedy which I cannot even describe. On the first night of Hanukkah," said Chabad of Broader Lakeview Rabbi Baruch Hertz. "But at the same time, as sad and as tragic as it is, we are not deterred."
An elevated police presence accompanied Sunday night's celebrations in Lakeview and in Lincoln Square, where members of Chabad, the same Hassidic organization that was behind Sydney's ill-fated festival at Bondi Beach, gathered to share latkes and jelly-filled donuts after the menorah lighting there.
"Chabad rebbes has always taught us that the way we deal with this tremendous darkness is by bringing light, and therefore, this Hanukkah, we will show that the terrorists are not going to win, and we're going to spread more light," Hertz said.
Earlier, Jewish leaders gathered to speak out against the deadly attack, which could have been much worse had it not been for a heroic bystander who intervened, wrestling a long gun away from one of the two shooters.
"Let's be clear. This was not a random act of violence. Jews were purposely targeted for simply being Jewish," said Jewish United Fund President Lonnie Nasatir. "Here in Chicago, we can't let this happen. We won't let this happen. All parts of our community must speak out."
Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement earlier, "As Jewish Chicagoans gather to light the menorah tonight, we mourn alongside you, and we are here for you as we grieve this horrific tragedy... The antisemitic attack in Sydney has no place in our world."
Chicago police said they are actively monitoring the situation in Sydney, but at this point, there is nothing that would lead them to believe any similar concerns exist in Chicago. Regardless, additional resources are being placed around Jewish temples and community centers.
