Chanukah in the face of Bondi Beach (S3, E13)

In this special Chanukah episode of Judaism in the 21st Century, Steven Labkoff and Rabbi Daniel Cohen confront a painful and urgent reality. As Jews were murdered while celebrating Chanukah in Sydney and another Jewish life was taken in the United States, antisemitism feels closer, louder, and more threatening than many of us have ever experienced.This conversation explores how Chanukah speaks directly to this moment. Drawing on the story of the Maccabees, Rabbi Cohen reflects on the dual responsibility Jews carry today: to confront darkness and violence head-on, while also continuing to bring light into the world through visible Jewish life, courage, and acts of goodness.Through personal reflection, Jewish history, and a powerful story from the Sydney community itself, this episode asks a simple but profound question: when fear rises, do we dim the light, or do we add another candle? Spoilers: Add another candle!