Chanukah is the Festival of Light – a joyous occasion celebrating an ancient Jewish triumph.

As Portlanders gathered at Pioneer Courthouse Square Sunday, Dec. 14 for the annual Portland Menorah Lighting, the joy was tinged with sadness as the ancient triumph was marked alongside a very modern Jewish tragedy.

Hours earlier that day in Sydney, Australia, another Chabad Menorah lighting was attacked by two armed men. The pair fired into the crowd gathered to observe Chanukah’s mitzvah on Bondi Beach, killing at least 15 and injuring others.

One of the dead, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, z”l, was a mentee and friend of Portland's Rabbi Chayim Mishulovin.

“He was always trying to help out and be there for other students,” Rabbi Mishulovin said of when he first met Rabbi Schlanger. “I watched him in his 20s and thereafter. I would see Eli going out there and really making a difference.”

“I know that if Eli were here right now, he would not want us to be upset,” Rabbi Mishulovin continued. “He would want us to be positive, be strong, and be a source of light for ourselves, for our families, for our communities and for the whole world.”

Numerous representatives of those communities were on hand. These included leaders of the Jewish community in Portland, including Jewish Federation of Greater Portland President and CEO Marc Blattner, Oregon Jewish Community Foundation President and CEO David Forman and Rabbi Eve Posen and Rabbi Cantor Eyal Bitton of Congregation Neveh Shalom. Elected leaders on hand included Secretary of State Tobias Read, State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner, Rep. Maxine Dexter, State Sen. Lisa Reynolds, State Reps. April Dobson, Dacia Graber and Tawna Sanchez, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, Portland City Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney and Portland City Councilors Mitch Green, Angelita Morillo and Eric Zimmerman. Steiner read remarks from Gov. Tina Kotek.

“I denounce antisemitism for the evil that it is. Let us come together as Oregonians to protect our state as a welcoming place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Chag Sameach, Happy Chanukah. May your candles burn bright this season,” the statement read in part.

Shortly after, the candles did burn bright following their ignition and blessing by Rabbi Moshe Wilhelm. Hundreds crowded into the tent to sing the Chanukah blessings along with Rabbi Wilhelm.

Despite the height of the menorah, the first candle and the shamash (helper) burning atop it could not overpower the lights of the stage, the lights of the Portland Fire and Rescue truck used to drop armfuls of gelt onto waiting children at evening’s end or the floodlights illuminating The Pioneer Courthouse across the street. They didn’t have to, as Rabbi Motti Wilhelm had explained earlier in the evening, repeating the sentence for effect.

“A little light dispels much darkness,” he said.