ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — People around the world are reacting to this weekend’s shooting in Bondi Beach, including the Bay area.

Rabbi Alter Korf of Chabad of St. Petersburg said the organization has increased security for this week’s Chanukah events, but he said it’s even more important now to move forward with celebrations.

What You Need To Know

 Chabad of St. Petersburg’s Rabbi Alter Korf said it was difficult to wake up Sunday to news of the Bondi Beach attack

 Rabbi Korf said security will be increased at this week’s Chanukah celebrations, but that he also thinks it’s more important than ever for people to come out and celebrate

 Korf said the attack was meant to intimidate and frighten the Jewish community worldwide and Chanukah is a time to fight back against the darkness

Chabad will hold its Car Menorah Parade on Wednesday

“I think for the Jewish community around the world, everybody felt like it’s their family,” said Rabbi Korf.

For him, Korf said it actually was family. He said he’s related to Rabbi Eli Schlanger, one of the more than dozen people killed in the Bondi Beach attack, by marriage.

“Australia is the first to welcome Chanukah, and then all the communities around the world follow,” he said. “It was intended to send a message – a mesage of fear, a message of retreat.”

It’s a message Rabbi Korf said is having the opposite effect in St. Pete. He said Sunday’s Chanukah in the City event drew an even bigger crowd than usual.

“People came to make a statement: We are here. We’re not disappearing. We don’t retreat from darkness,” Korf said.

According to an Anti-Defamation League report released in April, the U.S. saw a five percent increase in antisemitic events last year compared to 2023. Rabbi Korf said Tampa Bay is a friendly region to the Jewish community, but vigilance is still important. He said it’s also important not to live in fear.

“We have to be present, we have to be in the public, and make sure that every Jew in our community feels comfortable, feels proud,” he said.

On Wednesday, Chabad is holding its Car Menorah Parade. Korf said the parade will have a police escort and end with a menorah lighting in Vinoy Park.