Greek community stands with Jewish Australians at Federation Square Hanukkah
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
The shadow of the Bondi Beach terror attack loomed over Federation Square on the third night of Hanukkah, as Jewish Australians gathered to mark the festival following the murder of 15 Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah in Sydney.
Greek community leaders, representatives of other communities and political leaders joined the gathering in a show of solidarity with a Jewish community reeling from Australia’s worst terror attack.
The Greek Community of Melbourne was represented by its president, Bill Papastergiadis, while Neos Kosmos was represented by journalist Fotis Kapetopoulos. Also in attendance were Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Victorian Deputy Premier Ben Carroll, Federal Assistant Minister for Multiculturalism Julian Hill and Victorian Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush.
Premier Allan condemned antisemitism as unacceptable, describing Victoria’s Jewish community as “pillars of Victoria’s multicultural state”. She also announced increased funding for the Victorian Community Security Group (CSG), alongside other security measures.
Bill Papastergiadis told Neos Kosmos there is “no place for antisemitism in Victoria”.
“The horrific attack that took the lives of our Jewish Australian brothers and sisters cast a dark cloud over all of us, but the lighting of the Menorah this evening is the real antidote. We are a multicultural society, humanity and respect will prevail over hate, the Greek Community of Melbourne stands shoulder to shoulder with our Jewish community.”
Rabbi Gabi Kaltman of the Ark Centre, and organiser of the Pillars of Light event, said intolerance and antisemitism are “unacceptable in a multicultural Victoria and that Hanukkah is a celebration of all faiths, all cultures and all races coming together”.
“We are strengthened in our grief by the show of support from the Greek community. Like the lights of the Menorah you have asked us to add light to push away this darkness after the terror attack on the Bondi Jewish community,” Rabbi Kaltman said.
“The antisemitic attack will not overshadow the forces of light that Hanukkah represents, the fact that the Greek community is represented here today adds to the bonds of hope and shows that evil will not win.”
Rabbi Kaltman invited the Premier, the Deputy Prime Minister and other guests to light the menorah and join in celebrations on stage.
Hanukkah commemorates the Maccabean revolt against the Greek Seleucid Empire more than two millennia ago, when religious freedom was suppressed under Emperor Antiochus VI. After reclaiming Jerusalem and rededicating the Temple, Jewish tradition holds that a single vial of oil — enough for one day — miraculously burned for eight, giving rise to the eight-day Festival of Lights.
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