Words cannot fully capture what it meant to return to Bondi Beach and light the Chanukiah with thousands of people. Standing side by side, we felt a powerful sense of unity, resilience, and defiance in the face of darkness and evil.
There are aspects of Judaism that require faith to accept. One such idea is that the Jewish people share an unbreakable soul, one that feels the pain of others. At times, this can seem like a spiritual concept that we leave to faith alone. This past Sunday night, that idea became tangible. Jewish strength and resilience were present and felt by all who attended. What once felt abstract became an undeniable truth. Rather than retreating in fear, we returned to the same place with renewed strength, showing up with about twenty times more people. To be part of that moment was truly extraordinary.
This week’s Parsha recounts Yosef revealing himself to his brothers. Until that moment, they saw him only as a powerful stranger. Once he revealed his identity, they embraced him and realized that they had been brothers all along.
Over the past two weeks, there has been an overwhelming outpouring of love, support, and assistance from every corner of the Jewish community. We may be one of the smallest nations, but we remain one of the strongest families.
On Sunday, before heading out to the event titled, “Light over darkness” at Bondi Beach, we were praying at the shiva home of Alex Kleytman. Father of Sabina Kleytman.
Larissa, Alex’s wife shared, “Alex was always the one encouraging us to attend events like this, especially during moments of fear and uncertainty. He believed that it is precisely in such times that we must express our Jewish pride openly.” As we made our way to Bondi Beach, we deeply felt that Alex was with us in spirit.
As we continue to bring light into the darkest moments, may we strengthen our Jewish identity and express it with courage and pride.
