Local Jewish groups celebrate Hannukah without fear following Bondi Beach attack

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- This week marks the celebration of Hannukah for Jewish communities across the globe.

The week-long holiday began just one day after the devastating shooting at Bondi Beach in Australia at a public Hannukah celebration that killed fifteen people.

The Jewish faithful are globally united through shock, grief, and sadness in a time meant for celebration.

"It was a deliberate attack on the Jewish people, an act of antisemitism that was horrific to see and we're feeling the reverberations in our community as well," says Steve Lotter, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Saint Joseph Valley.

Rabbi Schneur Gansburg from the Chabad of Greater South Bend lost colleagues in the shooting.

"My colleague Rabbi Eli was running and unfortunately he was shot, he was taken from us together with another one of my colleagues and many others, and we're still processing," says Rabbi Schneur Gansburg of the Chabad of Greater South Bend.

In a time that could easily result in mounting fear among the Jewish community, they say they look to the Menorah as an example to be the light for each other.

"As we light the candles it reminds us that we too can be a light in the darkness through our actions, through our words, through our interactions every day," says Lotter.

Instead of cancelling Sunday's annual Menorah lighting in downtown South Bend out of fear, they embraced the solidarity.

"To see our community strong together in a public setting after what happened at a public setting in Australia, it meant a lot," Lotter says.

From all the way across the globe in Australia to fellow South Bend neighbors, the support among the Jewish community will be stronger through this.

"We've been going through this for many, many years and we never back down, we only come out stronger than before," says Rabbi Gansburg.

"We are one Jewish people across the world, and I truly feel like that's true in this community as well," Lotter says.

The Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley says the rest of Hanukkah is typically celebrated privately at home or at small gatherings with family, so there are no immediate safety concerns when it comes to Hanukkah events for the rest of the week.