L.A. groups ramp up Hanukkah festivities after attack

In the hours after two gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration on Australia's Bondi Beach in Sydney, killing at least 15 people, Rabbi Noah Farkas, president of the Jewish Federation Los Angeles, fielded a barrage of calls from Jewish parents across Los Angeles.

- By DouG SMITH AND JENNY JARVIE

AT A Palisades Village menorah lighting, JoJo Pustilnikov, 6, dons a necklace.

How, they wondered on the first night of Hanukkah, should they protect themselves? Was it safe to bring their children to a synagogue? Should they even gather to celebrate? Farkas urged Jews across Los Angeles to not be deterred.

"The whole point of terrorism is to terrify Jews from coming together," he said, noting it was no coincidence that Hanukkah takes place during the darkest nights of the year.

"When the evening lights are at their darkest, that's when we light candles down here on Earth," he said. "And we add light to light over the course of the week." As hundreds of thousands of people prepare to gather across Los Angeles this week to celebrate Hanukkah, synagogues are upping security and Los Angeles police are increasing patrols.

The federation said it was working with law enforcement to ensure safety at events.

"All Federations and their community security initiatives are on full alert for the Chanukah celebrations in their communities, working with all our law enforcement partners," the organization said in a statement.

"Our community will never retreat in the face of hatred, and will never refrain from carrying on our Jewish traditions. Rather, we will use every tool at our disposal to make sure our communities are safe and that our lights burn all the brighter." The Los Angeles Police Department also said Sunday morning that it was "deeply saddened" by the shooting in Sydney and would provide extra patrols at Jewish places of worship, schools and Hanukkah celebrations across L.A.

"While there is no known threat to Los Angeles at this time, the LAPD remains vigilant and committed to protecting our diverse communities," the department said in a message on X.