Bloomington, indiana — december 15, 2025: members of the jewish community and supporters gather at the sample gates for a menorah lighting celebrating the start of hanukkah, the festival of lights, on december 15, 2025, in bloomington, indiana. The lighting was postponed from sunday due to freezing temperatures and took place monday instead. (photo by jeremy hogan/the bloomingtonian)
Staff report
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — December 16, 2025
Dozens of people bundled in winter coats gathered in 24-degree weather at Indiana University’s Sample Gates on Monday evening for a public Hanukkah menorah lighting, an event that had been postponed from Sunday because of freezing temperatures.
Rabbi Levi Cunin led the ceremony shortly after 5:30 p.m., offering remarks before the menorah was lit on the second night of Hanukkah. Cunin referenced the deadly attack on Australia’s Jewish community at Bondi Beach in Sydney and spoke about responding to darkness by adding light.
Following the lighting, the crowd sang a Hanukkah song and later assembled for a group photo that organizers planned to send to Australia as a gesture of support and solidarity.
According to reporting from CNN, the Bondi Beach attack targeted a Hanukkah celebration and killed at least 15 people, with Australian leaders saying the suspects were motivated by Islamic State ideology; the coverage also described public mourning in Sydney and solidarity gestures including menorah imagery projected onto the Sydney Opera House.
At IU, Shirel Rozenberg, introduced by organizers as a new co-president of Chabad IU, lit the first candle. Jeremy Galante, identified by organizers as a Chabad IU executive member, assisted with the lighting.
Members of Indiana Hillel, the local Jewish community, IU students and supporters attended. Afterward, organizers served traditional Hanukkah treats, including sufganiyot — jelly-filled doughnuts — and chocolate gelt.
Bloomington, indiana — december 15, 2025: members of the jewish community and supporters gather at the sample gates for a menorah lighting celebrating the start of hanukkah, the festival of lights, on december 15, 2025, in bloomington, indiana. The lighting was postponed from sunday due to freezing temperatures and took place monday instead. (photo by jeremy hogan/the bloomingtonian)Bloomington, indiana — december 15, 2025: members of the jewish community and supporters gather at the sample gates for a menorah lighting celebrating the start of hanukkah, the festival of lights, on december 15, 2025, in bloomington, indiana. The lighting was postponed from sunday due to freezing temperatures and took place monday instead. (photo by jeremy hogan/the bloomingtonian)Bloomington, indiana — december 15, 2025: members of the jewish community and supporters gather at the sample gates for a menorah lighting celebrating the start of hanukkah, the festival of lights, on december 15, 2025, in bloomington, indiana. The lighting was postponed from sunday due to freezing temperatures and took place monday instead. (photo by jeremy hogan/the bloomingtonian)Bloomington, indiana — december 15, 2025: members of the jewish community and supporters gather at the sample gates for a menorah lighting celebrating the start of hanukkah, the festival of lights, on december 15, 2025, in bloomington, indiana. The lighting was postponed from sunday due to freezing temperatures and took place monday instead. (photo by jeremy hogan/the bloomingtonian)Bloomington, indiana — december 15, 2025: members of the jewish community and supporters gather at the sample gates for a menorah lighting celebrating the start of hanukkah, the festival of lights, on december 15, 2025, in bloomington, indiana. The lighting was postponed from sunday due to freezing temperatures and took place monday instead. (photo by jeremy hogan/the bloomingtonian)Bloomington, indiana — december 15, 2025: members of the jewish community and supporters gather at the sample gates for a menorah lighting celebrating the start of hanukkah, the festival of lights, on december 15, 2025, in bloomington, indiana. The lighting was postponed from sunday due to freezing temperatures and took place monday instead. (photo by jeremy hogan/the bloomingtonian)Bloomington, indiana — december 15, 2025: members of the jewish community and supporters gather at the sample gates for a menorah lighting celebrating the start of hanukkah, the festival of lights, on december 15, 2025, in bloomington, indiana. The lighting was postponed from sunday due to freezing temperatures and took place monday instead. (photo by jeremy hogan/the bloomingtonian)Bloomington, indiana — december 15, 2025: members of the jewish community and supporters gather at the sample gates for a menorah lighting celebrating the start of hanukkah, the festival of lights, on december 15, 2025, in bloomington, indiana. The lighting was postponed from sunday due to freezing temperatures and took place monday instead. (photo by jeremy hogan/the bloomingtonian)Bloomington, indiana — december 15, 2025: members of the jewish community and supporters gather at the sample gates for a menorah lighting celebrating the start of hanukkah, the festival of lights, on december 15, 2025, in bloomington, indiana. The lighting was postponed from sunday due to freezing temperatures and took place monday instead. (photo by jeremy hogan/the bloomingtonian)
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