Merced, CA (December 16, 2025) — Students, faculty and local residents gathered on the University of California, Merced campus Monday evening for a meaningful menorah lighting ceremony that honored both the second night of Hanukkah and the victims of a deadly mass shooting in Sydney, Australia earlier this week.
The event, held on campus grounds, brought community members together to reflect on the significance of the Festival of Lights in the midst of grief and rising concerns about antisemitism around the world. Attendees lit candles on the menorah, sang traditional songs and participated in Jewish traditions.
The ceremony also acknowledged an act of violence that recently impacted Jewish communities worldwide. On Dec. 14, a Hanukkah festival at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, was struck by a mass shooting that left numerous people dead and many more injured. The attack, being widely condemned as an act of antisemitic violence, has reverberated through Jewish communities globally and heightened discussions about security and solidarity at public religious gatherings.
To support the safety of those in attendance, UC Merced coordinated with local law enforcement to ensure extra police presence during the event.
