Sat Nam,

This year it’s with a heavy heart that I wish you a Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. 

Last Sunday as you would all know on the first lighting of our Chanukah candles my Jewish community were targeted in an horrendous attack.

As a Jewish person I have many emotions on this from horror, grief, fear, anger and such a strong love for our Jewish community and our beautiful country Australia.

I am eternally grateful for everyone who has reached out to me and all my fellow Australians who are speaking up on the Jewish communities behalf, sending condolences and speaking against this ever happening again.

This attack was the worst of humanity but it also brought the best in humanity. I have seen so many acts of kindness and love.  The memorial sight is flooded with flowers and people, hugging, crying, connecting and singing for peace and love. There’s a giant menorah there which is lit every night to bring light. The Sikh community whose Dharma Kundalini Yoga is based on have set up a stall and are providing the community with hot food, water, bananas, compassion and love.  Thousands of people paddled out which is a beach tradition when someone dies and our amazing lifesavers formed a line across the whole of Bondi beach and on beaches across NSW in solidarity whilst we had a minute of silence. 

Chanukah is the festival of light and my Jewish community are asking everyone to light a candle tonight in memory of all the victims and those still recovering in hospital. 

They are also asking people to perform a mitzvah which means an act of good whether that be donating time, blood, food, phoning a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while, just spreading love and being kind.  The NSW Government have set up a link here to share your mitzvahs. https://www.nsw.gov.au/community-services/one-mitzvah-for-bondi

Beautiful Matilda’s family are asking everyone to post a bee in memory of their beautiful little girl. 

This didn’t just affect my Jewish community, it affected all Australians, and the outpouring of love shows me that our love will always be stronger than their hate and our light will always be stronger than their darkness.

I wish you light and love this holiday season. Let there be light.

See you on the mat. ❤️

Love and light,

Adette