Hanukkah celebrations continue with message of unity

MILWAUKEE – The first day of Hanukkah, a holiday often marked by donuts and candle lighting, was overshadowed by tragedy for Rabbi Levi Stein as he helped organize a local celebration Sunday.

Local perspective:Police say a father and son opened fire during a Hanukkah gathering on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, killing more than a dozen people and injuring dozens more.

It took this turn that I was least expecting,” said Rabbi Levi Stein, organizer.

Stein said the violence struck close to home. He knew some of the victims personally, including Rabbi Eli Schlanger, and later learned a cousin had been wounded.

“I learned that his wife and his sister were good friends with my wife, and then I learned a first cousin of mine was shot and thankfully survived,” said Stein.

Stein’s cousin, Yossi, was seen with first responders and is recovering after a bullet grazed his arm, according to family members.

They tried to bring evil, they tried to scare us and the best way to respond to that is adding more light into this world, by lighting the menorah,” said Stein.

Stein is part of a team organizing a Hanukkah celebration at Bayshore, saying unity and visibility are the most powerful responses to violence.

Leaders at the Jewish Community Center echoed that message during Sunday afternoon celebrations.