A Chanukah message from the Prime Minister
Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison has used words penned by the late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks in his Chanukah message to the country’s Jewish community.
Scott Morrison
Scott Morrison said:
“The Jewish faith speaks of the joys and sorrows of life. It recognises that our trials can enlarge our capacity for love, and strengthen the bonds between us all.
This year has been one of the most difficult in the lives of all Australians. People in the Jewish community and beyond have endured hardships and made heartbreaking sacrifices.
But the struggles of this year haven’t broken our spirit. We’ve faced our tests with resilience, courage and compassion, and we will continue to do so in the weeks and months ahead.
The celebration of Chanukah is a powerful expression of confidence and hope in the future.
It commemorates the time when a desecrated temple was rededicated.
It recalls the miracle of a single vial of oil burning for eight nights.
It says that, even amidst great suffering, a light keeps shining.
A Chanukah menorah represents so much more than just a nine-branched candelabra – it speaks to the triumph of light over darkness, the human capacity to endure, and the intensity of life itself.
The late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, the former Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth, was an inspiring and compassionate voice about the role of Judaism in our ever-changing world.
On the occasion of Chanukah some years ago, he wrote:
“There always were two ways to live in a world that is often dark and full of tears. We can curse the darkness or we can light a light, and … a little light drives out much darkness.”
I wish the Jewish people of Australia a light-filled Chanukah.
Chanukah Sameach!”
