US Jewish Groups Urge Heightened Security After Sydney Hanukkah Shooting

A deadly mass shooting on Sydney’s Bondi Beach has prompted leading Jewish groups in the United States to call for stricter security at public events.

Rising Security Calls Among US Jewish Groups

The advisory, issued by several organizations that specialize in security, urges all Jewish groups to limit access to events to people who have been screened after preregistering. The message stresses that event details—location, time, and other information—should only be shared with confirmed registrants.

Access Control Measures

The groups recommend that venues implement locks and entrance procedures to allow only known, confirmed registrants or attendees into the facility or event. This approach is intended to reduce the risk of another tragedy at a public gathering.

Resilience Through Celebration

Despite the warning, many rabbis have announced that their synagogues will continue with large‑scale celebrations to demonstrate resilience. The mass shooting is a stark reminder that the Jewish community must incorporate security into religious practice.

Temple Beth Sholom’s Message

A message posted by Temple Beth Sholom, one of the largest synagogues in the Miami area, reads: “This week, let us choose Jewish joy, communal strength, and courageous hope.” The message invites every member of the family to join the Chanukah celebration, urging the community to gather around the candles and reaffirm an unbreakable connection.

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers’ Perspective

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Congregation, who survived the 2018 attack that killed 11 worshippers, said: “Hanukkah is supposed to be a time of light, celebrating the resilience of our people.” He added, “In the face of antisemitism and violence, my prayer is that we don’t let the fear win but instead lean into our Jewishness and practice our tradition proudly.”

The Tragic Loss in Sydney

At least 15 people died in Sunday’s attack, a death toll that has fueled criticism of the nation’s authorities for not doing enough to curb antisemitic crimes. Australian leaders promised on Monday to overhaul gun control laws after the targeted attack on Bondi Beach.

Eli Schlanger’s Role

Among those killed was Eli Schlanger, assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and organizer of the family Hanukkah event, according to Chabad. The Orthodox movement, known for public menorah lightings, highlighted Schlanger’s leadership.

Chabad’s Call for Greater Security

A year earlier, Chabad urged Jews to be “more Jewish, act more Jewish and appear more Jewish” in the face of rising antisemitism. In response to the Sydney shooting, Chabad.org stated that centers worldwide are proceeding with thousands of planned public menorah lightings and community Hanukkah celebrations “while taking greater security precautions.” The organization calls on the community to drown out hate with light and goodness while mourning those lost.

Rabbi Chaim Landa’s Menorah Lighting

The Sydney shooting reinforced the importance of public celebrations, said Rabbi Chaim Landa of Chabad of Greater St. Louis. The group proceeded with its planned Sunday night menorah lighting near the Gateway Arch, adding a greater police presence. Landa believes this is what Schlanger would have wanted.

Landa’s Emphasis on Safety

“There’s a couple pieces to this. There’s making sure that it’s safe, and there’s also making sure that people feel safe. And we want both,” Landa said. He estimates that close to 300 people attended the outdoor event in below‑freezing temperatures. “People wanted to come out, and they wanted to be together. So it’s very important that people feel that they can do that, and that’s what we want to ensure.”

Leadership Speeches and Determination

In a speech delivered after the Australia attack, Rabbi Rick Jacobs of the Union for Reform Judaism elaborated on the community’s mix of dismay and determination. He said: “We are thinking about security and how to live openly and safely as Jews — asking questions that are newer to us but would have been all too familiar to generations of our ancestors.”

Jacobs on Security and Pride

“We need to ask these hard questions. We need to be smart about security and protecting ourselves and our fellow Jews — whether within the synagogue walls, or when we walk down the street wearing a kippah,” Jacobs added. “But the spirit of the defiant Maccabees is also part of the Hanukkah story. Our Jewish community will not go into hiding. We are proud Jews and will remain so even as we make the security of our Jewish community a primary obligation.”

Jacobs on the Talmudic Tradition

Jacobs referred to the tradition of placing the Hanukkah menorah in a window for others to see. He said: “But in the Babylonian Talmud we are taught that in a time of danger, we do not do that.” “We have been living in a time of growing danger for several years now. And for too many Jews, putting a menorah in the window is too dangerous.”

Alon Shalev’s Call for Visibility

Alon Shalev, a research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, argued that Jews should be bolder in boosting their public profile after the attack. He told the Associated Press via email: “When Jews are attacked for being visibly Jewish, the instinct to retreat is understandable — but it is precisely the wrong response.”

Shalev on Civic Affiliation

Shalev continued, “Jewish safety in democratic societies depends on open, shared civic affirmation, supported by political and community leaders and by fellow citizens, not on retreat behind closed doors.” He added, “Stepping into the public square and normalizing Jewish presence is how we defend ourselves.”

Key Takeaways

• US Jewish groups are urging stricter security and preregistration for public events.
• Despite the threat, many synagogues are proceeding with large celebrations to show resilience.
• Chabad and other organizations are combining public lightings with heightened security measures.

The Sydney shooting has intensified calls for a balance between safety and visibility, prompting leaders across the Jewish world to advocate for both security and an open, proud presence in public life.