ST. LOUIS - Kiener Plaza hosted the fourth annual menorah lighting ceremony in downtown St. Louis.
Sunday's event typically serves as an extra special kickoff to Hanukkah, but it's special to David Cohen and the local Jewish community for different reasons in the wake of a deadly antisemitic attack in Australia that killed at least 15 people earlier in the day.
"We all woke up to the news out of Australia and people were celebrating this holiday there and, unfortunately, people were murdered just for expressing their religious beliefs," David Cohen, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis, said.
Cohen said the community refuses to let their light go out this holiday season.
"We have to keep celebrating," he said. "We have to keep being proud of who we are."
Dozens gathered in Kiener Plaza to witness the lighting of the largest menorah west of the Mississippi River. As they braved the cold, they sang, prayed, and lit the middle and first candle.
"For those who try to harass us or attack us. This is the point. We are going to keep doing this," Cohen said. "We will fight back against those who normalize antisemitism, and we are going to celebrate who we are and celebrate these wonderful holidays."
Cohen said they will continue to hold Jewish events across St. Louis with extra security in place, so those celebrating feel safe.
Meanwhile, Rabbi Chaim Landa, director of Chabad of Greater St. Louis, joined FOX 2 News at 9 p.m. to discuss the local Jewish community's response to the mass shooting in Australia.
