New Delhi (ABC Live): Hanukkah is not just a religious festival of candles and songs. Instead, it is a living reminder of what happens when state power tries to crush faith, culture, and conscience. It comes from a 2nd-century BCE struggle against forced cultural change. Because of that history, Hanukkah sits at the centre of religious freedom, identity, and survival.

At the same time, a hard modern truth has emerged. In several democracies, public Hanukkah events now often need police presence, barriers, and safety checks. So, what began as a ritual of memory has also become a test of public security. As a result, the festival of light now carries both joy and risk.

This link between ancient memory and modern danger is not random. Hanukkah’s core message says a small community can keep its faith even under pressure. However, that same visibility can anger extremists who reject plural life. Therefore, Hanukkah gatherings have, at times, been targeted as symbolic attacks on Jewish communities and, more broadly, on religious freedom. In addition, when large conflicts stay open and anger spreads online, the risk can rise. For that wider context, see ABC Live’s analysis of Gaza peace pathways in 2025.

What Hanukkah Commemorates

Hanukkah marks the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after Jewish rebels, led by Judah Maccabee, regained it from the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes. During that era, Jewish worship and key practices were restricted. In response, the revolt fought for the right to live by faith and law.

After the Temple was restored, tradition says only one day’s worth of pure oil was found for the menorah. Yet the flame burned for eight days, long enough to prepare new oil. Because of that story, Hanukkah lasts eight nights. Also, each night adds another candle, so the light grows instead of fading.

Core Rituals and Symbols

• Menorah lighting: One candle per night on a hanukkiah, using the helper candle (shamash).
• Dreidel: A spinning top with Hebrew letters linked to the “great miracle” phrase.
• Oil foods: Latkes and sufganiyot recall the oil story.
• Gelt and gifts: Coins or small gifts, often tied to learning and charity.

Why Hanukkah Is Often Celebrated in Public Today

Today, many Jewish communities hold outdoor menorah lightings and open gatherings. On one hand, public celebration builds pride and belonging. On the other hand, it can raise exposure. So, these events may face higher risk than closed indoor settings.

A Disturbing Pattern: Violence During Hanukkah Celebrations

Over the past decade, several violent incidents linked to Hanukkah gatherings have raised alarm. Importantly, these attacks do not only harm victims. They also aim to create fear and to push Jewish families out of public life.

Selected Incidents Linked to Hanukkah

• Monsey, New York (2019): An attacker entered a rabbi’s home during a Hanukkah gathering and stabbed several people. Afterward, many communities expanded holiday security planning.
• Los Angeles (2022): A Hanukkah-week shooting near a Jewish area increased fear and led to hate-crime action in court.
• Sydney, Australia (2025): A mass attack at a public Hanukkah event became a major warning for public-event safety.

More broadly, violence can rise when major conflicts harden identity lines and fuel hate online. Therefore, understanding the wider risk climate matters. For related strategic context, see Geometrics of Power. Also, ABC Live’s framework review of the U.S. peace plan for Ukraine explains how long wars can reshape social pressure far from the battlefield.

Data Snapshot: Disproportionate Targeting in Hate-Crime Patterns

In many places, Jewish communities are a small share of the population. However, official reporting and surveys often show a high share of religion-based hate incidents aimed at Jews. The table below gives a clear, high-level view. Then, readers can check the latest year-by-year figures in the official links.

Note: The exact shares vary by year and by reporting method. Even so, the repeated theme is clear: antisemitic hate incidents often rise when Jewish life becomes more visible in public.

Why Hanukkah Has Become a Symbolic Target

Hanukkah events are open, public, and easy to spot. Also, the symbols are clear: candles, menorahs, and group prayer. For extremists, that visibility can offer attention and fear at the same time. So, some attacks linked to Hanukkah are meant to send a message, not just to harm people.

Conclusion

Hanukkah celebrates resilience and the idea that light should grow, even in hard times. Yet attacks during Hanukkah gatherings show that open celebration can become a security test. Therefore, protecting the right of Jewish communities to celebrate in public—safely and without fear—is a core duty in any open society.