Crowd gathers for menorah lighting in Morrisville: ‘Make the world brighter’

MORRISVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) — About 100 people gathered in Morrisville on Sunday to light the menorah for the final night of Hanukkah.

“The message of the holiday is to make the world brighter,” said Rabbi Yisroel Cotlar of Chabad of Cary.

Cotlar organized several events across the Triangle during the holiday, encouraging the crowd to embrace their religion.

“A Jew that is proud of who they are ends up being a Jew that practices, ends up being a Jew that shines their light. Nothing good ends up happening to anyone when they have to hide their identity. When an identity is hidden, it ends up fading away. The more a person has a natural pride in who they are, they end up sharing it with other people, they end up having their light glow,” Cotlar explained.

Last week, a father and son were alleged to have opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration in Australia’s Bondi Beach, killing 15 people. The suspects, 24-year-old Naveed Akram and his father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, were reportedly inspired by the terrorist group ISIS. Sajid was shot and killed by police, while Naveed was arrested and is facing several charges, including 15 counts of murder. Among the victims of the mass shooting include a 10-year-old girl and a Holocaust survivor.

“It hits home very personally, even though I was on the other side of the world. It was my daughter’s best friend’s father who was murdered in that attack. Another good friend’s brother is still critically injured,” said Cotlar.

There was a substantial police presence during Sunday’s event, with police cruisers parked along the street and officers walking the grounds, greeting attendees. Town leaders, including Mayor TJ Cawley, were in attendance to show their support for the Jewish community.

“It’s incumbent upon parents to educate every single child to know that the same way there is horrendous evil out there in the world that is bold, that is daring, that is horrific, we have to be just as bold and daring and risky for good. To do random acts of kindness,” said Cotlar.

That idea was behind Jean Luc’s decision to attend.

“We should not be afraid of celebrating who we are. I want to show my friends that I’m not afraid. And I want to show the Jewish people that we are all welcome. We’re all in this together,” said Luc, who is not Jewish.

He said he was embraced by attendees, who expressed gratitude for his support.

“I want to, in a small way, light up the darkness to show that they are not alone,” Luc said.