^{Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the Knesset's opening ceremony in Jerusalem on Oct. 20, 2025. Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90.}

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lit on Sunday the eighth Chanukah candle together with Chabad emissaries at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem.

“The Chabad community and the entire people of Israel have gone through a great tragedy in Sydney—by despicable murderers who murdered them because they were Jews, and solely because they were Jews,” Netanyahu was quoted as saying by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Fifteen people were shot and killed during the lighting of the first Chanukah candle in Bondi Beach in Sydney on Dec. 14, carried out by a Pakistani man and his Australian-born son.

“Our spirit has not fallen and will not fall,” the prime minister continued. “I have seen this among the emissaries, and in all the Chabad Houses that have already been attacked in the past. It did not break our spirit—on the contrary. I saw the strengthening and the mobilization for action, for bringing the people of Israel closer together wherever they may be on the face of the earth.

“I say from the depths of our hearts: We share in the mourning, yet we also see the greatness, and we are more determined than ever to ensure the eternity of Israel. We do this here; Chabad emissaries do this throughout the world—and we will prevail. We are prevailing, and we will continue to prevail.”

Also on Sunday, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir lit a Chanukah candle with the troops and commanders of the Hasmonean Brigade at the Tevez Training Base in the Jordan Valley.

Zamir commended the integration of ultra-Orthodox men within the brigade, saying that its operational activity over the past year proves that military service that preserves haredi men’s way of life is possible, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit reported.

“The IDF is the army of the people, and it has a duty to welcome all communities of society. Many missions lie ahead. We are working to expand the ranks of the IDF and to further recruit ultra-Orthodox individuals in order to ensure our readiness for future challenges,” Zamir said.

The chief of staff added that the military’s strength comes from its service members from all sectors of Israeli society. “Our security needs are extensive and we need more combat soldiers,” he stressed.

The IDF is working to expand the Hasmonean Brigade and to develop additional integration frameworks, Zamir said, adding that “We are building a groundbreaking generation of an ultra-Orthodox chain of command that will lead across all arenas.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz also attended a Chanukah lighting event on Sunday. He lit the eighth candle at the Western Wall in Jerusalem with the commander and fighters of the IDF Paratroopers Brigade.

“Thanks to our dear and heroic IDF soldiers, we can make tough and bold decisions to strike our enemies anywhere, because we know we have someone to rely on. From here, we promise: Anyone who raises a hand against Israel’s sanctities or Israel’s security—their hand will be cut off,” he vowed.

Source: JNS