Holocaust Survivors Mark Hanukkah Amid Hamas War, Antisemitism Surge

Virtual ceremony organized by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany Holocaust victims, as global Jewish community grapples with recent violence and rising antisemitism.

Holocaust survivors worldwide are marking the fifth day of Hanukkah with a virtual ceremony, amid concerns about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and a global rise in antisemitism.
The ceremony includes a menorah lighting to pay tribute to the 6 million European Jews killed by the Nazis in the Holocaust, with several survivors also gathering in-person at Jerusalem’s Western Wall.
The event, organized by the New York-based Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, is in observance of International Holocaust Survivors Night.
Many Jews are feeling traumatized by Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and took some 240 as hostages. Israel's response has so far resulted in more than 17,900 deaths in Gaza.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, among other world leaders and celebrities, has addressed the attack in messages to be shown at the ceremony, expressing deep concern over the impact of the violence and the rise of antisemitism.