A Chanukah message from Walt Secord
The NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel deputy chair and Shadow Treasurer Walt Secord writes: “I wish all Jewish community members a happy and light-filled Chanukah.”
Walt Secord
From Sunday, December 22 sunset until Monday, December 30 sunset, the Jewish community will mark Chanukah.
This will occur across the State with various large celebrations at Bondi Beach, Martin Place, Double Bay and St Ives to smaller ones in Byron Bay and the South Coast – as well as in the homes of Jewish families everywhere.
Chanukah, the festival of lights, marks the liberation of the Jewish people and the miracle of the oil that burned for eight consecutive nights in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
With the lighting of each candle on the menorah, Chanukah celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, freedom over oppression and good over evil.
Unfortunately, even in a time of celebration, there is sadness and my thoughts and prayers are with the community in Jersey City in the United States reeling from the murderous antisemitic attack earlier this month at the kosher supermarket.
We are also reminded by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry that our nation continues to face the scourge of antisemitism with 368 incidents logged from October 2018 to September 2019.
This serves as a constant reminder that we must stand with the Jewish community and drive out the darkness. Our society must find the light within and bring warmth to all of those around us. With each passing year that is the message of Chanukah.
Let us each spread our warmth, and our light, by setting an example of resilience, tolerance, peace and goodwill towards all.
I am delighted to wish all my friends and family in the NSW Jewish community a Happy Chanukah.”
