Run – Hide – Fight

Worst Massacre Since the Previous Massacre

Waking up to news of a mass shooting at a Chabad-organized Hanukkah event in Sydney, Australia, I checked some online news sources. Associated Press reported that the Australian Prime Minister condemned the incident as “an attack on every Australian.”

That AP report included this:

The massacre followed a wave of antisemitic attacks that have roiled Australia over the past year, although the authorities didn’t suggest those episodes and Sunday’s mass shooting were connected.

Dear Australian authorities, I can help here. One thing connects all those attacks: They targeted JEWS!

We seethe at the callous terrorists, we mourn with those whose loved ones were killed and we ache for the wounded who may never fully recover. (Can anyone fully recover?) We mourn another loss of innocence, we reluctantly consider the costs of adding more security and the potential costs of not doing so.

At a JFED security training last week, we reviewed the RUN – HIDE – FIGHT responses to an active shooter. Those actions are also our options for living Jewishly; only one of them will have any lasting effect: FIGHT!

We fight such attacks when we show up, when we teach our children, when we proudly display our Hanukkah candles in street-facing windows.

Show up! Light up!

2:00 TODAY (12/14/2025) Community Chanukah Celebration at the JCC

5:15 TODAY (12/14/2025) Community Menorah Lighting at the Chabad Center in Ventnor!

… and look for other gatherings you can enrich with your presence.