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Hanukkah

Gunman Naveed Akram in the course of a deadly terror attack on a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia, December 14, 2025. (Screengrab used in accordance with clause 27a of the copyright law)
February 16, 2026, 9:18 am
Bondi Beach terrorist, charged with 15 counts of murder, faces court for first time
Naveed Akram remains mostly silent as he appears before judge via video link over deadly shooting at seaside Hanukkah event; lawyer says he has not discussed how client will plead
By Agencies
Australian officials examine a car bearing a 'Happy Chanukah' sign whose interior was torched, reportedly using a firebomb, in Melbourne's St. Kilda East neighborhood, December 24, 2025. (Screenshot; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
December 25, 2025, 11:05 am
Rabbi’s car with ‘Happy Chanukah’ sign torched in Melbourne, as antisemitism wave persists
Vehicle was parked in heart of Jewish St. Kilda East neighborhood; no injuries reported; separately, Australian authorities charge man over online support for Bondi attack
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Sgt. (res.) Dana Silberman Sitton, sister of murdered captive Shiri Bibas, lights a Hanukkah menorah that survived the attack on her parents' Kibbutz Nir Oz home, in Gaza on December 21, 2025. (Courtesy IDF)
December 23, 2025, 4:34 pm
Shiri Bibas’s sister lights parents’ menorah while on reserve duty in Gaza
Dana Silberman Sitton, whose parents, sister and young nephews were killed by Gazan terrorists on and after October 7, looks for the light on Hanukkah
By Jessica Steinberg
A woman is seen blowing out Hanukkah candles in a Tel Aviv mall in an undated video from December 2025. (Screen grab/ X, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
December 23, 2025, 10:03 am
Police to probe teen who blew out Hanukkah candles in Tel Aviv mall
Police say 17-year-old girl and 19-year-old relative called in for questioning; rights group challenges legality of investigation amid questions on nature of alleged offense
By ToI Staff
Relatives, friends and supporters of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, whose body is held by Hamas, light Hanukkah candles at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, December 21, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
December 22, 2025, 5:15 am
‘Won’t give up’: Hostages Square candle-lighting held to urge release of Ran Gvili
Mother of last captive held in Gaza says Hamas ‘deceiving’ Israel and US over the whereabouts of his remains
By ToI Staff
Thumbnails of Hanukkah videos by (clockwise from top left) The Maccabeats, Y-Studs, Matisyahu and Six13. (YouTube)
December 21, 2025, 4:07 pm
‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ AI lead this year’s Hanukkah video crop
YouTube is filled with AI-generated music videos that blur the lines between reality and art, including from a Jewish mother from the West Bank who only began composing in June
By Zev Stub
"Free Palestine" written on a Bloomingdale's sales tag, found by a customer within a delivery of Hanukkah-themed pajamas, December 2025. (Arielle Harris/TikTok)
December 21, 2025, 10:40 am
Bloomingdale’s said to fire employee for ‘Free Palestine’ note in Hanukkah pajamas
Recipient Arielle Harris says she found note on sales tag after she opened gift from boyfriend; parent company Macy’s says there’s no place for antisemitism at firm
By Michael Horovitz
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson addresses the Israeli Consulate in Chicago's Hanukkah gathering on December 18, 2025. (Israeli Consulate in Chicago)
December 21, 2025, 6:45 am
Progressive Chicago mayor joins Israeli consulate Hanukkah party with solidarity message
Brandon Johnson, who has called Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza ‘genocidal,’ says he’s grateful for relationship with Jewish state, sends condolences over Bondi Beach attack
By Jacob Magid
A note is pictured next to floral tributes laid at Bondi Pavilion in memory of the victims of a terror massacre targeting a Hanukkah event days earlier, at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, Australia, on December 20, 2025. (DAVID GRAY / AFP)
December 21, 2025, 5:24 am
‘Light over darkness’: Australia marks Day of Reflection for Bondi Hanukkah attack victims
Jews and others light candles, observe minute of silence, as tributes pour in; authorities in talks with Jewish community leaders about establishing a permanent memorial
By Agencies and ToI Staff
A Hanukkah celebration in downtown Reykjavik, Iceland, December 14, 2025. (Courtesy Mushky Feldman via JTA)
December 21, 2025, 2:49 am
In Reykjavik, a Hanukkah lighting illuminates a tiny community in times of darkness
With daylight in short supply and in the aftermath of the devastating terror attack in Bondi Beach, Iceland’s Jews celebrate the holiday amid heightened security rare in the pastoral country
By Jenna Gottlieb
A woman is seen blowing out Hanukkah candles in a Tel Aviv mall in an undated video from December 2025. (Screen grab/ X, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
December 20, 2025, 3:09 pm
Police open investigation after woman blows out Hanukkah candles in Tel Aviv mall
Suspect could face up to three years in prison if police find she violated religious desecration law; no arrests have been made
By ToI Staff
Beachgoers are seen behind a piece of cloth bearing messages left by mourners at the promenade of Bondi Beach in Sydney on December 18, 2025, to honor the victims of the terror attack that targeted a Jewish community event marking the first night of Hanukkah on December 14. (David Gray / AFP)
December 19, 2025, 11:32 am
Intel further confirms Bondi Hanukkah terror attack was ‘ISIS-inspired,’ says Australian PM
Albanese announces gun buyback, and ‘day of reflection’ after terrorists killed 15 people and wounded dozens at Jewish community event; 14-year-old survivor recounts shielding children
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Jean Meltzer, author of 'The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah.' (Courtesy)
December 19, 2025, 10:02 am
Let Jean Meltzer’s new Hanukkah-themed romance put the spark in your Festival of Lights
The American Jewish author and onetime rabbinical student adds to the winter holiday canon with ‘The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah,’ the People of the Book’s answer to ‘A Christmas Carol’
By Rich Tenorio
Comedian Rob Reiner speaks at a ceremony honoring fellow actor Billy Crystal, April 12, 2019. at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. (Robyn Beck/AFP)
December 19, 2025, 5:16 am
In recorded Hanukkah video, Reiner urges Holocaust survivors to be resilient in scary times
Clip of Jewish actor, recorded two months before his murder, aired as part of virtual ceremony featuring candle-lighting at Western Wall
By AP and ToI Staff
US President Donald Trump speaks during a Hanukkah reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on December 16, 2025. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)
December 17, 2025, 7:30 pm
At White House Hanukkah party, Trump laments ‘Jewish lobby’ no longer most powerful
US president says many in Congress now ‘hate Israel,’ falsely claims twice he got all hostages out of Gaza; Miriam Adelson pledges $250m for unconstitutional third Trump term
By Jacob Magid and ToI Staff
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