Dedicated to the victims of the horrific antisemitic attack on the first night of Chanukah in Bondi Beach, Australia. As reflected in the article below, their deaths connect our generation to the enduring story of faith and spiritual resistance expressed in Maoz Tzur. May their memories be a blessing.

Deep in a dark tunnel under Gaza two years ago, a group of six Israeli hostages lit Chanukah candles and sang Maoz Tzur. Watching this unbelievable scene unfold on a recently released video, recovered in Gaza by the Israeli military, is the strongest example I have seen of how this prayer Maoz Tzur represents the spiritual strength of the Jewish people during times of challenge. Viewed now, knowing that just eight months after this scene was filmed that these six hostages would be murdered in captivity, these scenes are as heartbreaking as they are inspiring.

Just three days after these videos moved the Jewish world, at least 15 Jews were gunned down at a Chanukah party on Australia’s Bondi Beach, including Chabad shlichim Rabbi Eli Schlanger zt”l and Rabbi Yaakov Levitin zt”l, darkening the world before the sun even set to usher in the first night’s candle lighting. Still, millions of Jews went on to light candles around the world and sing Maoz Tzur. These six hostages, Hersh Goldberg Polin, Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Almog Sarusi, Or Danino and Alex Lubanov, along with the victims of the massacre in Australia – and all of the grief and fear we face as Jews – are likely on all of our minds as we light our Chanukah candles each night.

With its repeated formula of adversity and salvation, Maoz Tzur is........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)