Australia attack on minds at Castro Hanukkah event

A terrorist attack in Australia at a Hanukkah celebration was on the minds of many attendees at the Castro menorah lighting in Jane Warner Plaza this week. The mass shooting by a father and son in Bondi Beach was inspired by the Islamic State, authorities said, and took the lives of at least 15 people.

In San Francisco, meanwhile, a menorah was lit Monday, December 15, a day after the overseas carnage. More than 100 people braved chilly weather to mark the Jewish Festival of Lights on the second night of the eight-day observance. The event was hosted by Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, San Francisco's LGBTQ synagogue. Leading the celebration was the congregation's spiritual head, Rabbi Mychal Copeland, a lesbian, and Cantor Sharon Bernstein. Dignitaries present were gay politicians state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, who represents the LGBTQ neighborhood. Mayor Daniel Lurie also attended.

Karen Schiller, a 67-year-old lesbian, said she had serious reasons for being at the event.

"I love Hanukkah," Schiller told the Bay Area Reporter. "I love bringing light into the world. Especially this year after what happened in Australia, it's important for me to be publicly Jewish."

In that attack, the older suspect, identified as Sajid Akram, 50, was killed by police. His son, Naveed Akram, 24, was hospitalized. Authorities said that the men targeted the Jewish community, with more than 20 people injured.

Schiller's sentiments were echoed by Don Berger, a 76-year-old gay man.

"I'm representing the Jewish community," Berger said. "Especially this week with the horror story in Australia and Rob Reiner's death. I'm here to support the Jewish community in these antisemitic times."

Berger was referring to actor-director and LGBTQ ally Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, who were found dead Sunday, December 14, at their home in Brentwood in Los Angeles. The prominent Hollywood Jewish couple was found with fatal knife wounds and allegedly killed by their son, Nick, who has been arrested in the case, according to media reports.

The gathering Monday night at a prominent public space in the LGBTQ neighborhood, for the most part, was joyous and upbeat, with people wishing each other a happy holiday and embracing.

"What makes this event is all of you," said Copeland, speaking from the podium. "It's just so beautiful to see everyone out here tonight."

The rabbi then thanked Andrea Aiello, a lesbian who is executive director of the Castro Community Benefit District, for helping to put the event together. Aiello did not speak at the event. The rabbi also thanked the Castro Merchant's Association and the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District.

"We are all holding a lot right now this Hanukkah," Copeland said, taking on a more serious tone. "It's a little bit different than in years past. I want to be in a space of pure joy, and it is a happy Hanukkah, a very happy and joyous holiday, but we are holding a lot of pain right now. Our communities are grieving two major catastrophes over this weekend, in Sydney where there was a horrific attack at a Hanukkah event, and I don't even know where to hold that in my heart, it is so painful, and I know what we're bringing that into this space tonight. And we're also bringing in from a day or two before that, an attack at Brown University."

At Brown University in Rhode Island last Saturday, a shooter opened fire in a classroom where a finals review was underway. Two students were killed.

"So much violence in our midst," the rabbi continued. "And we come together knowing that we are experts at holding the joy and sorrow of life together, but come on, this is too much, and I'm feeling the heaviness of that and I imagine that a lot of you are as well."

Copeland then acknowledged that some people might be reticent to put their menorahs in their windows.

"But we are here in public today," she said. "And we are loud. So be loud."

The crowd cheered as the rabbi spoke.

Copeland then introduced Wiener and Mandelman, two prominent local Jewish politicians. Also introduced was Captain Amy Hurwitz of the San Francisco Police Department. All three were met with applause.

"I really look forward every year to welcoming Hanukkah here in my neighborhood in the Castro," said Wiener, who announced in October that he’s running for the U.S. House seat held by retiring Congressmember Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco). "It's so meaningful. Not everyone here is LGBTQ, but I do love being around queer Jews. With everything happening in the world, I have never been prouder to be a Jew than I am right now."

Wiener then spoke about the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, of which he is a co-chair, and its work in "Tikkun Olam" (repairing the world). The caucus works toward making food and health care more accessible, and offers support to refugees.

"And that is the positive beauty of Judaism," Wiener said. "It's supporting everyone and finding the light in the darkness. That's what Hanukkah is all about, that's what Judaism is all about, that's what this community is about."

Wiener then lit an electric candle on the giant menorah, which was on display next to the podium. Mandelman followed suit.

Mandelman introduced himself by saying that he was a "gay, gay, gay supervisor, and the gay, gay, gay board president, and a proud member of Sha’ar Zahav."

The supervisor spent his time at the podium thanking Copeland and Bernstein for their hard work, as well as thanking Aiello. Mandelman called Wiener a "great senator who will be a great congressman." He also thanked Hurwitz.

"She's the Jewish Godmother," said Mandelman of Hurwitz. "She looks after the Jews. Thank you, SFPD, for being out here. And I love our Jewish mayor, Daniel Lurie, he's a mensch (gentleman). He puts the mensch in mensch. He's a joy to work with. Happy Hanukkah, Mr. Mayor."

The mayor then stepped up to the podium, lighting the third electric candle.

"It's a joy to be with you all," Lurie said. "We had a press conference about street safety, and the questions inevitably went to what happened in Australia. All I can say is I'm heartbroken, I'm devastated by the attacks there. This is a holiday where we celebrate light in a time of darkness. The more light we can shine on the world, as Jews and as non-Jews, that is what is so critical, so important in these dark times. And I do want to thank our SFPD for keeping us safe, and allowing our community to celebrate, and I want people to celebrate Christmas coming up and I want to celebrate New Year’s, but as it relates to this holiday, this is where we get to shine a light on our community.

“We've shown the world light over the last 11 months," the mayor said, referring to his time in office since January. "And during these dark moments when we have weekends like we just had around the country and around the world, to know that we can come together, to wrap each other up, hold each other, we can give each other hugs, hope and some happiness and some peace, that's what this holiday is about, that's what I learned from my dad, Rabbi Brian Lurie."

The mayor pointed out that it was a Muslim man who took away the gun from one of the shooters in Australia, thereby saving a lot of Jews.

"We have to, as a community here in San Francisco and around the world, take care of each other, whatever your religion, whatever your background," the mayor said, as the crowd applauded and cheered.

Hurwitz was the last to speak.

"I don't have a lot to say but I want to say thank you to everyone who is standing here because your presence here shows that we are not afraid, we are a cohesive group," she said. "We love each other and we love this city. We are going to keep going forward, so thank you for supporting the SFPD, and we will always be here for you."

Bernstein, standing at a portable keyboard, then led the spectators in singing Hanukkah songs, both in Hebrew and in English. A few people danced to the music as Copeland displayed a giant dreidel. Jelly donuts were handed out as people sang along. In spite of the tragedies that had occurred over the past few days, the mood was jubilant.

Some people came ready to party. A woman named Lucia, who declined to give her last name, said that she identified as a dreidel, proudly showing off the dreidel costume she was wearing. She also showed off a large sculpture of a menorah she had made when she was 8 years old.

"I'm here because it's Hanukkah," she said. "I didn't want to celebrate alone."