Overview
- Public lightings are proceeding with expanded protections, including Reykjavík’s ceremony guarded by plainclothes police and surveillance drones as Iceland’s foreign minister lit the menorah and condemned the Sydney assault.
- Rabbis and commentators urge placing menorahs in windows to project resilience and joy rather than fear, framing visibility as central to the holiday’s purpose.
- Some Jews, particularly in small or isolated communities, report hesitation about displaying Jewish symbols because of safety concerns heightened by recent violence.
- Recent figures cited from the Anti-Defamation League and FBI show a marked rise in antisemitic incidents and anti‑Jewish hate crimes in 2024, adding urgency to security and solidarity efforts.
- The modern tradition of public menorah lightings is widely traced to a 1974 ceremony on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, a precedent frequently invoked in today’s public observances.