On Sunday, millions of Jews worldwide observed the start of Chanukah, and this year’s celebration was mixed with mourning for victims of a tragedy more than 10,000 miles away in Australia.

Earlier that day, the world was rattled by news that gunmen had opened fire on a Chanukah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing at least 15 people.

The victims range in age from 10 to 40, according to Australian media reports.

The Chanukah massacre underscored a need for vigilance around the world with antisemitic violence on the rise. And that’s a reality felt all too close to home, as Newton—in which nearly 30 percent of residents are Jewish—has grappled with a spike in hate crimes and antisemitism over the past couple of years.

On Sunday, as a crowd gathered on the Newton Centre Green to light a menorah, Rabbi Moshe Lieberman of Chabad of Newton Centre and U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss offered words to sum up the feeling of grief mixed with hope and resilience.

“Chanukah is an unusual holiday,” Lieberman said. “It’s a holiday of light, and it celebrates light over darkness. And that you can overcome adversity with a little bit of light. Darkness is the absence of light. A little bit of light can dispel a tremendous amount of darkness. You start with one candle the first night, and you increase the second night with two candles, and so on and so forth.”

Lieberman urged attendees to focus on the message of Chanukah—an eight-day holiday that commemorates a Jewish revolt against the tyrannical King Antiochus IV Epiphanes—and look for the light when things get dark.

“We have to remember that no matter how terrible and how dark things are out there, the mitzvah of Chanukah—the Talmud describes it as a mitzvah that’s celebrated when the sun sets, when it gets dark,” he continued, “Sadly, there’s more darkness in the world, and the only way to counter that, to overcome that, is by bringing more light into the world. So we’re going to light the candle today here at home and wherever we may be. We’ve got to remember, friends, that’s the only way to overcome adversity and the only way to deal with darkness.”

Auchincloss spoke next, with a joint message from his fellow Jewish Congress members:

“On a night meant for celebration, Jewish families in Australia, gathering in joy and peace on the first night of Chanukah, were grotesquely targeted with hate and murderous intent. Sadly, this attack does not come as a surprise to the Jewish community of Sydney, who have been raising a clarion call for local and national authorities to take concrete steps against a rising tide of antisemitism. We stand in solidarity with the Australian Jewish community and together extend our condolences to the family and friends of the people murdered, and are praying for the complete recovery of the dozens wounded and the entire Jewish community feeling besieged. Antisemitism is a cancer that eats at the core of society, whether in Australia, the United States or anywhere it is allowed to take root and grow. We join leaders around the globe in condemning this evil act and in calling for justice, peace and unwavering support for those affected. We also call on all leaders to do better, to do better in standing up to antisemitism, bigotry and hate. We must also do better in our work for a world where everyone can celebrate their faith and traditions.”

In the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attacks on Israeli civilians and with the subsequent Israeli military operations in Gaza, Newton saw a sharp spike in hate crime activity, including antisemitic attacks.

On Sunday, the Newton Police Department acknowledged the heightened concern among the city’s Jewish community but reported via social media that there are “no known threats to Newton.”

“Officers will be increasing patrols around places of worship and at special events throughout the holiday,” a post on the department’s Facebook page reads.

Sunday’s menorah lighting included snacks, music and a gelt drop with the Newton Fire Department.

Chanukah runs until Dec. 22. Here are some Chanukah events throughout the city to keep you in the spirit of light while the days are the darkest of the year.

PHOTOS

Rabbi Moshe Lieberman of Chabad of Newton Centre speaks at his congregation’s menorah lighting ceremony on the Newton Centre Green. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

A large crowd gathers on the Newton Centre Green for a menorah lighting ceremony hosted by Chabad of Newton Centre on Dec. 14, 2025. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Members of Chabad of Newton Centre work on getting the menorah lit on the Newton Centre Green on Dec. 14, 2025. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

A Newton firefighter drops handfuls of gelt on the Newton Centre Green as part of Chabad of Newton Centre’s menorah lighting ceremony on Dec. 14, 2025. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

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