Calling for visible Jewish pride
Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann said it's time to 'draw that line in the sand' after two years of escalating antisemitism.
A Rabbi is calling on Melbourne’s Jewish community to defy their fears and celebrate Chanukah publicly at Federation Square this year.
The Ark Centre’s Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann said it’s time to “draw that line in the sand” after two years of escalating antisemitism. He is organising the sixth annual Pillars of Light festival in the city’s CBD, and said Jewish people must resist the urge to hide their identity despite legitimate security concerns.
“Sadly, people do feel scared to be visibly Jewish, but that is giving space to those horrible people that want us to feel like that,” Rabbi Kaltmann said.
“We must make every effort to show up in public visibly Jewish, proud of who we are, and that’s how we push back against those people that want us to cower and to hide and to go away.”
The eight-day festival, which will feature over 25 Jewish artists including Deborah Conway, has attracted unprecedented support from multicultural and faith leaders seeking to demonstrate solidarity with the Jewish community.
Rabbi Kaltmann said that community leaders across Victoria have been actively reaching out, with responses to invitations arriving within 24 hours.
“They’ve said, ‘Rabbi, we don’t know how to support you through this tough time,’ and that is why they’ve made every effort to come to Pillars of Light, to stand with the Jewish community, to call out the antisemitism,” he said.
The festival’s central message, “a little bit of light pushes away a lot of darkness,” aims to unite Melbourne’s diverse communities at a time when social cohesion has been severely tested.
Security remains the top priority, with organisers working closely with Victoria Police, private security and Federation Square officials to ensure attendees feel safe celebrating their identity publicly.
“No longer should the community feel that the CBD is not safe for Jews,” Rabbi Kaltmann declared.
“I hope Pillars of Light this year will draw that line in the sand, and people will come and celebrate the beauty of the festival of Chanukah.”
The festival will feature light installations around Federation Square, including a 12-foot menorah that will be lit each night by community members, leaders and multicultural faith representatives.
Rabbi Kaltmann emphasised that the CBD belongs to all Victorians, where “everybody should feel safe, secure and comfortable, to celebrate who they are and their faith.”