Tragedy struck Bondi Beach, Australia, where two gunmen opened fire on a crowd of over 1,000 Australian Jews celebrating the first night of Hanukkah. The attack resulted in 15 civilian deaths and dozens injured, highlighting the profound significance of Hanukkah as a celebration of enduring Jewish life.

• Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that commemorates the rededication of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and the perseverance of Jewish identity.
• The celebration involves the nightly lighting of the chanukiah, a nine-branched candelabra, with each night adding another candle to "publicize the miracle."
• The origins of Hanukkah trace back to the 2nd century BCE when the Maccabees rebelled against the Seleucid Greek Empire, reclaiming Jerusalem and rededicating the Temple after desecration.