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Residents of Reading, Pennsylvania, gathered for the annual Menorah lighting ceremony on Tuesday (December 16) in a show of unity and resilience following the tragic shooting during a Hanukkah event in Sydney, Australia. The ceremony, held at Fifth and Penn streets, was attended by community members, faith leaders, and local officials.
Cindy Gerber Tomlinson, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Reading-Berks, highlighted the importance of the event in the face of rising antisemitism. She emphasized that the attack in Sydney, which left 15 people dead and more than two dozen injured, reflects a concerning global trend. "Antisemitism is higher now than it has been in history, next to the beginning of the Second World War," Gerber Tomlinson stated.
The lighting ceremony, led by Rabbi Yosef Lipsker and Rabbi Ted Prosnitz, included traditional prayers and songs. Rabba Rori Picker Neiss, a senior vice president at the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, spoke about the symbolism of light in Hanukkah, saying, "We do the single most important act of Hanukkah. We do the most radical of acts. We light a candle. We put light into the world," as reported by the Reading Eagle.
The event served as a reminder of the strength and resilience of the Jewish community and their allies, who continue to stand together in the face of adversity.