 "15 killed in Sydney Bondi Beach shooting during Hanukkah celebrations. What we know about Jewish festival")
At least 15 people were killed and 42 others injured in a shooting spree at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday, as crowds gathered for the start of the Jewish festival Hanukkah, authorities said.
A father-son duo, identified as Sajid Akram and Naved Akram, opened fire on the crowded beach, killing a 10-year-old girl, among others, according to police. The attack is being described as Australia’s worst mass shooting in nearly 30 years, prompting the government to lower flags to half-mast nationwide.
Armed with long-barrelled firearms, the two men fired indiscriminately for nearly 10 minutes, triggering panic among hundreds of beachgoers. Police eventually shot and killed the 50-year-old father, while the 24-year-old son was arrested and is currently undergoing treatment in hospital for serious injuries.
The shooting occurred on the first day of Hanukkah, an annual celebration that typically draws more than 1,000 people to Bondi Beach each year.
What is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is the Jewish “Festival of Lights”, observed over eight nights, during which an additional candle is lit each evening on a menorah.
The word Hanukkah means “dedication”, commemorating a Jewish victory over Syrian forces around 165 BC, when the Maccabees reclaimed and rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem. According to tradition, only a single day’s supply of sacred oil was found to light the Temple’s menorah, yet it miraculously lasted eight days.
To commemorate this event, Jews light candles nightly and prepare foods cooked in oil, such as latkes (potato pancakes).
How does the beginning of the festival vary?
Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev in the Jewish lunar calendar, causing its dates to shift each year on the Gregorian calendar, typically falling between late November and late December.
This year, Hanukkah began at sundown on Sunday, December 14, and will continue through December 22. Though not traditionally among Judaism’s most significant holidays, Hanukkah has gained wider cultural prominence due to its timing alongside the Christmas season.
Theme and traditions
The central theme of Hanukkah is light overcoming darkness, symbolising the belief that even a small act can create transformative change.
Jewish tradition today follows a unified practice: beginning with one candle on the first night and adding one more each evening, accompanied by special blessings. Candles are placed from right to left on the menorah but lit from left to right, starting with the newest candle. A ninth candle, the shamash, is used to light the others.
While traditional candles are preferred, electric menorahs are sometimes used in public or medical settings for safety reasons.
How is Hanukkah celebrated?
Menorahs are lit in homes and placed in visible locations such as windowsills or doorways, symbolising the spreading of light. Public menorah lightings have also become increasingly common worldwide, including at major landmarks.
Charity and social service are also important aspects of the festival, reflecting the belief in helping improve the world for all.
Mass shootings in Australia
Mass shootings have been rare in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which killed 35 people and led to sweeping gun law reforms.
Earlier this year, the Australian government accused Iran of orchestrating a series of anti-Semitic attacks, expelling Tehran’s ambassador nearly four months ago. Citing intelligence assessments, authorities said Iran directed the torching of a kosher café in Sydney’s Bondi suburb in October 2024, as well as an arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne in December 2024.
With inputs from agencies
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