SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- At least 15 people were killed over the weekend during a shooting in Sydney, Australia. It happened at a Festival of Lights celebration for the first day of Hanukkah. The mass shooting that happened in Sydney is being called a terrorist attack that targeted the Jewish commun ity. Fifteen people were killed and 40 others hospitalized. The local Jewish community is honoring the lives lost at several Hanukkah events this week. Organizers of the first lighting of the Menorah in San Francisco’s Union Square spoke about the victims of a mass shooting in Australia. Child among 15 killed by gunmen in attack on Jewish holiday event on Sydney’s Bondi Beach A terror attack that killed 15 people at Bondi Beach in Sydney, when a father and son opened fire at a Celebration of the Festival of Lights for the first day of Hanukkah. Jewish Community Relations Council CEO Tyler Gregory says law enforcement throughout the Bay Area will be increasing their presence for the Jewish holiday. “I’ve been working to educate mayors and council members, as well as police departments throughout the Bay Area to coordinate security for these gatherings to make sure that there are the added security measures in light of what happened in Sydney," Gregory said. The antisemitic attack is dimming what should be a time of light and celebration. Rabbi Shimon Margolin from the Russian Speaking Jewish Community of the San Francisco Bay Area knew one of the 15 killed. Massive fire reported at San Francisco gas station Thinking of his friend, as well as the other victims. “There was a ten-year-old girl, and there’s an 80-year-old survivor of the Holocaust," Margolin said. "So it’s very, very difficult.” Margolin was emotional over the loss felt worldwide and encouraged the Jewish community to lean on their faith. “The Jewish Community is determined to continue, our faith is teaching us that we are not going to cower and we are not going to back down in the face of evil," Margolin said. During a holiday celebrating the triumph of light over darkness, Gregory says it’s important for Jews to be proud of their heritage and to let their neighbors see. “I would encourage the Jewish community members watching, put your Menorah in a window. Let the world see," Gregory said. "We need to be proud of who we are, we belong here in the Bay Area and we think that that message of hope and resilience is really what’s going to help us get through this.” Gregory says several local schools and organizations have organized Hanukkah events this week that weren’t already doing so, in light of the terrorist attack in Sydney. ...read more read less