The most important Chanukah Australia has ever seen

Thank you so much for inviting me to speak at Chanukah in the City. Growing up, I was always very jealous of my Jewish friends at Chanukah as they had eight nights of celebration and treats but I had only one night for Christmas. My kids particularly love the donuts and will be very jealous that i had them tonight.

This was always going to be a special Chanukah – the 40th anniversary of this celebration in Martin Place. But now this is perhaps the most important Chanukah Australia has ever seen.

The story of Chanukah is the story of how light can overcome darkness. And we have never gathered in darker times. Last Sunday was the darkest day in modern Australian history. People in our community were murdered by terrorists simply because of their faith.

We all failed Jewish Australians last Sunday. We all failed. Australia promises to keep us all safe no matter our farther or our background. No matter who we love. We failed the community, and it will take so much to build back our promise.

As a child of an immigrant, as part of multicultural Australia, that we have failed so badly to keep people safe is devastating To me personally.

That Jewish businesses are closing because they cannot guarantee the safety of their staff is absolutely appalling. It is a stain on our country and the promise to welcome everyone, regardless of faith, ethnicity or sexuality.

We must be that promise of Australia.

Jewish Australians have been building our country since the First Fleet. Our nation is built on multicultural achievement and Jewish Australians have been at the forefront of that through their enormous contribution.

Chanukah is an Australian celebration, so as we light the physical candles here tonight, let’s also light the spiritual and cultural candles of Australian life.

To return to the Australia I grew up in. When I grew up in the Eastern suburbs, there weren’t security and gates around the synagogues and Jewish schools. They were just part of the community. But now every single one I visit has them.

And as I think forward on the enormity of what we need to do, I think that has to be our Northstar. That the Jewish community does not have to live behind security fences. That is no way to live. I don’t know if we can achieve that in 10 years. I don’t know if we can achieve it in my lifetime. But that must be our Northstar.

Sunday was a tragedy, but we must honour it by building back our country better. Not building back to last Saturday, or even to the 6th of October in 2023. Because still in those days our Jewish community was living behind security fences, just because of their faith.

We have to be much more ambitious and fulfil the promise of Australia. That your safety and welcome in this country is regardless of your faith, ethnicity or sexuality.

We have so much to do. Changes to laws, policing, education. It was important to start to get a response to the antisemitism envoy’s report today. We need action, not words.

But ultimately, the safety and security of our community is more than laws and policing. It comes from a society that cannot be divided by those who wish it ill. That is the country that we must be.

Happy Chanukah. Am Yisrael Chai.

Allegra Spender is the Member for Wentworth. This was her speech at Chanukah in the City 2025.