Mourning with those who mourn
January 2026
Cruelly timed with Hanukkah, last year ended in tragedy for Jewish people as terrorists attacked Sydney’s Jewish community while they celebrated the festival on Bondi Beach. Here Rahel Landrum, one of our missionaries in Sydney, reflects on the evil attack.
Without doubt, the Jewish community in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney recently experienced one of their darkest nights imaginable. As they gathered to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, terrorists opened fire on unarmed civilians – fathers, mothers, children, and the elderly. Tragically, fifteen people, including a ten-year-old child, lost their lives.
Mark and I live about five minutes from where the event took place. We heard a series of loud consecutive booms. I immediately thought it was the sound of rifles but quickly dismissed the thought. After all, this was not my home country of Israel – it was Sydney, Australia. We thought it must be fireworks but then came the commotion of police car sirens and the sound of helicopters. Incredulous, we looked outside from our balcony and then turned on the news. Suddenly, we were confronted with the evil massacre that was unfolding.
Our hearts are broken for those who have lost loved ones – some right in front of their eyes – in such a callous and violent way. Our hearts are broken for those who are still in hospital recovering from their wounds. Our hearts are broken for families overseas who tried in vain to contact loved ones they knew were at the event.
During Hanukkah, Jewish people like us put a Hanukkiah (a nine-pointed candelabra pictured below) in the window for all to see the light. This is to remember the victory that God gave to the Jewish people when they regained control of the Temple in Jerusalem, after it was desecrated by the ancient Syrian- Greek empire around 168 BC.
As followers of Jesus, we are to let our light shine before others so they might
see our good works and give glory to God (Matthew 5:16). Each of us is to be a living, breathing Hanukkiah!
Please pray that God will give Mark and I the grace to be just that for the Jewish community in Sydney over the coming year – a light to those who are hurting, mourning, and feeling anxious and unsafe. Pray that God will give us many opportunities to comfort those who mourn and to lead them to the hope we have in Jesus.
