With the atrocities and tragedies that the world and our nation have endured the last several days, it is no wonder why our hearts are weary.
In Bondi Beach, Australia, deranged terrorists, fueled by hatred of Jews, ambushed a Hanukkah celebration and massacred 15 innocent people. At Brown University in Rhode Island, two people were killed and nine injured by a gunman who remains at large. All of this came amidst the 13th anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre – the deadliest school shooting in American history.
Enveloped in such tremendous darkness, we must hold onto the flickers of light – one the brightest being Ahmed El Ahmad, who saved the lives of countless strangers in Bondi Beach by tackling and disarming one of the terrorists.
Whether you are celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, Diwali or Kwanzaa, remember how each is centered upon light as a beacon of goodness and hope. The shared symbolism is not lost on me, and I believe it calls upon every person of good will – spanning every race, religion and creed – to stand together and reverse the tide of senseless violence and hatred that is ailing our world.