Light in the darkness: ‘Sunnukiah’ finds new meaning after Bondi terror attack

At around 3 am on 15 December, Rabbi Mendy Litzman of Hatzolah was driving home from hospital. He had spent hours helping victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack the previous evening.

Arriving at the scene around 7 pm while the final shots were still being fired, he worked through the night triaging the wounded, then accompanying them to hospital.

Exhausted and despondent, he travelled along Military Road in Dover Heights and noticed a large sculptural Chanukiah (menorah) with one light glowing on the corner of Blake Street. It was the first light of Chanukah.

The sight “gave me hope; to see the light in the darkness,” he recalls.

The solar- and battery-powered, known as the “Sunnukiah”, had switched on automatically at dusk. Programmed days earlier, its timing took on unexpected meaning in the aftermath of the attack, offering a quiet moment of faith after a horrendous night of chaos and loss.

The Sunnukiah is a contemporary Chanukiah commissioned by Waverley Council and designed and built by Jewish artist Joel Adler (with help from his father, Kevin) in partnership with the Jewish Climate Network. It was originally installed in Dover Heights for the eight days of Chanukah as part of the council’s investment in seasonal decorations for the local community. It is believed to be Australia’s first solar- and battery-powered Chanukiah.

Conceived as a modern interpretation of a traditional Jewish symbol, the sculpture is powered entirely by renewable energy. Solar panels collect sunlight during the day, storing it in internal batteries that illuminate the Chanukiah each evening without drawing electricity from the grid.

Adler said the brief was to create something more sculptural than a standard civic Chanukiah. The intention was to produce a work that could sit confidently in public space and feel considered.

The design reflects themes of growth, renewal, and energy flow. Its nine branches rise and twist around a central core, inspired by natural forms and the movement of light.

As the sun sets, warm LED lights glow through frosted glass tubes, releasing the energy gathered earlier in the day. Adler has described the work as both symbolic and instructive. He explained that the project began as a community-focused artwork rather than a conventional commission.

He said the sculpture also serves an educational purpose, giving communities a hands-on way to understand how solar and battery systems work, beyond abstract discussions about energy.

As flowers and stones accumulated at informal memorials near Bondi Beach, community members and Waverley council representatives suggested relocating the sculpture closer to the site of the attack. Adler agreed immediately, stating that if it could serve the community in that moment, that mattered more than any original plan.

Earlier this week, council staff relocated the sculpture to Archer Park at Bondi Beach, the site of the massacre. It will now serve as a temporary memorial to the victims of the 14 December terror attack. Staff transferred stones and tributes left by mourners to the new position at Archer Park, and within hours, people began placing additional stones and candles around its base.

Waverley Council confirmed the Sunnukiah would remain in place until a permanent memorial is established. Discussions will take place at an appropriate time and will involve the NSW Government, council, Jewish community organisations, and the families of the victims.

Mayor Will Nemesh said the sculpture reflected the enduring meaning of the festival. “Chanukah is the story of light triumphing over darkness, and this Chanukiah is a reminder that even in dark times, the bright spirit of our community will shine through,” he said.

A plaque will be installed near the sculpture identifying the artwork, its creator, and its role as a temporary memorial.

Beyond the Sunnukiah, Adler has created a number of significant works for Jewish communal spaces, often centred on light, form and meaning. These include the “Tree of Life” sculpture at Mount Sinai College, which uses layered structure and reflection to draw natural light into its surroundings, and a sculptural ark for Nefesh Synagogue designed to channel sunlight towards the Torah space.

For Adler, the Sunnukiah now carries added weight. “It began as a Chanukah artwork,” he said. “It has become a place where people can stop, remember and stand together.”

 

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For more on Joel Adler’s work, see: https://joeladler.com.au/
For more on the Jewish Climate Network, see: https://www.jcn.org.au/