Bondi Beach/ What is Hanukkah?

Why in News ?  Australia was shaken by a deadly terror-linked mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach during a Jewish festival, Hanukkah

• Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah) is an eight-day Jewish festival often called the “Festival of Lights.”
• It commemorates the recovery of Jerusalem and the subsequent rededication of the Second Temple in the 2nd century BCE, after a small group of Jewish fighters (the Maccabees) defeated the Syrian-Greek army.

The central part of the celebration is the miracle of the oil:

• When the Jews rededicated the Temple, they found only a tiny amount of pure oil—enough to light the sacred lamp (Menorah) for just one day.
• Miraculously, the oil kept the lamp burning for eight full days, which was the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of ritually pure oil.

Key Traditions:

• Menorah Lighting: The main custom is lighting the Hanukkiah (a nine-branched candelabra). One candle is lit on the first night, and an additional candle is lit on each successive night until all eight candles are burning on the final night. The ninth candle, called the shamash, is used to light the others.

• Fried Foods: Foods fried in oil are eaten to remember the miracle of the oil, such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts).

Dreidel: Children play a traditional game with a four-sided spinning top called a dreidel.

Bondi Beach:

Bondi Beach is Australia’s most iconic beach, located in Sydney’s eastern suburbs (about 7 km from the CBD). It’s a 1 km crescent of golden sand facing south, framed by rocky headlands, known for world-class waves and vibrant culture.

Key Facts:

• Name derives from an Aboriginal word meaning “noise of water breaking over rocks.”
• Indigenous history: Inhabited by Cadigal, Bidjigal, and Birrabirragal peoples for thousands of years.
• Became public in 1882; heritage-listed since 2008 for cultural and historical significance.
• Birthplace of surf lifesaving in Australia; home to the oldest surf club (Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club).
• Famous for surfing, swimming, coastal walks, ocean pools (like Bondi Icebergs), and events like City2Surf run.
• Attracts millions annually; symbolizes Australia’s laid-back beach lifestyle with cafes, art, and multiculturalism.