In response to a tragic antisemitic attack in Sydney, Australia, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office has announced an increase in patrols at synagogues and Jewish organizations throughout the area, News 6 reported on Monday.
“Antisemitism is currently at an unprecedented level,” stated Eric Robbins, interim CEO of Shalom Orlando.
Robbins shared his thoughts with News 6’s Mike Valente on Monday, just before the second night of Hanukkah.
He recalled a recent visit to Bondi Beach, the site of the attack, where individuals had gathered for a Chabad event to mark the first night of Hanukkah.
“Hearing about the attack transported me back to the beach,” Robbins reflected, noting his shock upon learning of the incident that claimed more than a dozen lives. “Additionally, I have personal ties to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, living just a mile from the Tree of Life synagogue.”
The Tree of Life synagogue was the location of the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, occurring in 2018 as Jewish worshippers were about to begin Shabbat services.
“So I was brought back to that, too,” Robbins said. “It was almost like a re-live of that trauma.”
As Robbins and other Jewish leaders in central Florida absorbed the news of the latest antisemitic attack, they crafted statements to deliver to Jewish people in their communities. In those statements, they acknowledged the very real scourge of Jewish hate, but also encouraged people to take part in celebrating the first night of Hanukkah in public.
“You don’t chase darkness away with a stick,” said Rabbi Dovid Dubov. “You chase away darkness with light.”
Rabbi Dubov is with the Chabad of Greater Orlando. He spoke to News 6 as a band played Hanukkah songs behind him in the main terminal of Orlando International Airport.
“Today we’re demonstrating publicly what Jewish pride is all about,” Dubov said. “And just like the Maccabees fought for it back then, we’re demonstrating it here today.”
Hanukkah, known as the Festival of Lights, celebrates the victory of the Maccabean revolt over their Syrian-Greek rulers, who tried to eradicate Jewish customs and practices.
The story of Hanukkah holds that after the Jewish people took back control of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, they found one jar of oil, which ended up providing light for eight days — hence the celebration of Hanukkah for eight nights.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office sent News 6 the following statement in response to our questions about security in light of the Bondi Beach attack:
“The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is committed to ensuring that people of all faiths feel safe worshiping in Orange County.
Yes, we are increasing patrols nears synagogues and places of worship or gathering in the wake of the horrible tragedy in Sydney. We have very close relationships with our faith community and work closely with them throughout the year to ensure that there’s always an open line of communication.”
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