Under heightened security, Dallas Jewish community members gathered at Klyde Warren Park Tuesday evening for the fifth night of Hanukkah celebrations, defiantly lighting the menorah just days after a deadly attack at a similar event in Sydney, Australia.
The public ceremony took on deeper significance as armed security personnel from Dallas police and nonprofit Shomer Texas maintained a visible presence throughout the event — a stark reminder of rising concerns about violence targeting Jewish communities worldwide.
A Symbolic Night of Light Over Darkness
Rabbi Zvi Drizin highlighted the symbolic importance of this particular evening in the eight-day festival. “Fundamentally, the fifth night of Hanukkah is the first night of Hanukkah where the light is more light than the darkness, so we go over to the next side,” he explained. “So it’s significant really in that this is where the light is stronger than the darkness.”
That symbolism wasn’t lost on attendees, who gathered despite — or perhaps because of — recent events that have shaken Jewish communities globally. The Sydney attack, which resulted in 15 deaths when gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration, has prompted Australian officials to consider broadening hate speech definitions and increasing penalties for hate crimes.
For many in Dallas, showing up was itself an act of resistance.
“It’s just a testament that we still endure and that’s what Hanukkah was. It was a rededication of our temple, taking back our identity,” said Jennifer Lieberman, who attended the ceremony. “I feel like now, more than ever, we have to be loud and proud,” she added, connecting the holiday’s historical meaning to present-day challenges.
Security Presence Brings Comfort, Reflection
What does it mean to celebrate while under guard? For many attendees, the security presence provided reassurance rather than anxiety.
Quique Nifco, who came to witness the menorah lighting, expressed appreciation for the heightened protection. “Makes me feel like there’s that commitment in the community. Regardless of religion, there’s a commitment for keeping each other safe, but we’re always going to be alert,” Nifco told reporters.
For those providing that protection, the duty carried personal weight. Adam, a security guard with Shomer Texas, shared his motivation: “I’m a parent, it’s hard to fathom raising kids in a world where people hate them just because of who we are. So being able to do our part, my part, to keep our community safe makes it all that more important.”
The nonprofit security organization has become an increasingly visible presence at Jewish events across Texas, working alongside local law enforcement to provide specialized protection for community gatherings.
A Message of Resilience
As the menorah candles flickered against the Dallas skyline, Rabbi Drizin delivered a message that resonated beyond religious boundaries. “We are stronger than the forces that are trying to kill us. We are stronger than the forces that are trying to marginalize us and light overcomes evil, always,” he declared to the assembled crowd.
The event comes amid what many Jewish organizations have described as a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents worldwide over the past year. Yet Tuesday’s gathering demonstrated a community determined not to retreat from public spaces or celebrations.
As families dispersed into the December evening, the menorah remained lit — five candles now burning brighter than the three that remain unlit, a visual representation of Rabbi Drizin’s words about light overcoming darkness.
