Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lit the eighth and final candle of Hanukkah this evening alongside Chabad emissaries at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, marking the conclusion of the Festival of Lights with a powerful message of unity, resilience, and national resolve.

The candle-lighting ceremony, accompanied by the traditional blessings and recorded on video, carried added emotional weight this year. In his remarks, Prime Minister Netanyahu referenced the December 14, 2025, terror attack at a Chabad Hanukkah gathering on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, where ISIS-inspired gunmen murdered 15 people, including Rabbi Eli Schlanger. The attack sent shockwaves through Jewish communities worldwide and underscored the persistent threat of antisemitic violence.

Netanyahu emphasized that the Hanukkah story itself is one of perseverance against darkness, noting that attempts to extinguish Jewish faith and identity have repeatedly failed throughout history. He praised Chabad’s global network of emissaries for continuing their mission openly and fearlessly, even in the face of terror, intimidation, and loss.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed Israel’s role as the defender of Jewish life everywhere, stating that acts of terror would not deter the Jewish people from practicing their faith or standing proudly in their identity. He stressed that the response to hatred must be increased light, strength, and solidarity — values embodied by Hanukkah and reflected in Chabad’s worldwide presence.

As the final candle was lit, the ceremony served not only as a religious observance, but as a statement of defiance against extremism and a reaffirmation of Israel’s commitment to the security and unity of the Jewish people, in Israel and across the globe.