Australia’s first ever

Solar-Powered Chanukiah

An installation by Joel Adler, commissioned by Waverley Council, in partnership with the Jewish Climate Network.

The installation of this shining light has been forever marked by the shadow of the horrific attack on Bondi Beach, which took place just minutes down the road.

Our hearts are with the victims and their loved ones. We hold hope for a future where Jewish people can celebrate our culture, faith, and traditions openly - without fear.

A new way to bring light into the world

This year, award-winning Australian artist and industrial designer Joel Adler unveils Australia’s first-ever Solar and Battery-Powered Chanukiah - The Sunnukiah - commissioned by Waverley Council. This public artwork reimagines a timeless Jewish symbol through contemporary design and renewable technology.

Powered by sunlight and stored battery energy, The Sunnukiah invites our community to celebrate Chanukah through a lens of creativity, sustainability, and resilience. JCN is proud to support this installation, sharing its message with the public.

Visit the Sunnukiah

About the Sunnukiah

The Sunnukiah is a sculptural expression of light, movement, and renewal - designed by Joel Adler to respond to its surroundings and evolve throughout the day. The sculpture’s nine branches rise and twist around a central core, inspired by the flow of energy and light within. As the sun sets, the warm glow of low-energy LEDs radiates from frosted glass tubes, reigniting the sun’s energy outward.

Commissioned by Waverley Council, the installation creates a new public ritual: a Chanukiah illuminated not by fuel or electricity from the grid, but by energy captured from the sun. It offers a moment of reflection on resilience - both ancient and modern - and how Jewish tradition can sit meaningfully within today’s environmental landscape.

“I see this sculpture as a quiet piece of education. It gives communities a beautiful, hands-on way to understand how solar and battery systems actually work, beyond the abstract conversations we usually have about energy. I’d love to create more of these for other communities next year.”

- Joel Adler, award-winning Australian artist

Meet the Artist

Joel Adler is an artist and industrial designer known for large-scale interactive and kinetic sculptures. His works, often monumental in size, are designed to engage directly with their surroundings and with viewers, creating experiences that shift with light, movement and environment.

Adler’s breakthrough work, Viewfinder, debuted at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi in 2019 - a cliff-edge periscope reflecting the waves crashing below. It received the People’s Choice, Kids’ Choice, and the Clitheroe Fellowship.

In 2022, his giant mirrored sculpture Lens won the Kids’ Choice Prize at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, further cementing his reputation for creating playful, awe-inspiring public works.

He has permanent installations around Australia, including Tides in Batemans Bay - built from recycled steel from the old Batemans Bay Bridge - and Emergence in Wonthaggi, Victoria.

Alongside his public art practice, Adler leads the design team at Tsu Lange Yor, the Melbourne-based homewares and fragrance brand founded by Troye Sivan.

He is currently developing several major commissions for 2026, including a new permanent edition of Viewfinder for installation in Vaucluse, Sydney.

For more information or to enquire about commissioning a Sunnukiah for your community, please contact Joel via his website.

Learn more or commission a Sunnukiah

Commissioned by Waverley Council

The Sunnukiah has been brought to life through the initiative and generous commissioning of Waverley Council, whose leadership helps illuminate a shared vision of creativity, resilience and renewable energy for the community.

“Chanukah represents the triumph of light over darkness - a message more important than ever. We are proud to share this celebration with our Jewish community.”
- Waverley Mayor, Will Nemesh

Visit The Sunnukiah

We invite the community to visit The Sunnukiah in person - to reflect, take photos, and experience Chanukah through the collective light of creativity and renewable energy.

Location:

Corner of Military Rd and Blake St, Dover Heights, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Dates:
From: Sunday, December 14th, 2025.
Until: early New Year, 2026.

FAQs:

Can I visit The Sunnukiah at any time?
Yes - The Sunnukiah is installed in a public space and can be visited throughout the day.

When is the best time to visit?
We recommend visiting around sunset or in the evening, when the solar and battery system powers the lights and the sculpture comes to life.

How does The Sunnukiah work?
The sculpture is powered by solar energy captured during the day and stored in batteries, which then illuminate the lights after dark.

If you’ve made it this far…take a photo with The Sunnukiah, share it on your socials, and tag @jcnaus.

Together, our light can outshine the darkness!

Take a photo with The Sunnukiah

It’s Time: Renewing the Light

The Sunnukiah reflects a powerful truth at the heart of JCN’s It’s Time campaign: that Jewish values and clean energy can illuminate a practical, hopeful path forward.

Chanukah teaches resilience and resourcefulness - a small amount of oil that lasted far longer than expected. Today, technologies like solar, batteries and electrification embody that same spirit: doing more with what we have, reducing waste, and strengthening our communities.

It’s Time is our national campaign to electrify at least 100 Jewish homes, helping households move off gas, lower energy bills, and cut climate pollution - all with trusted, community-based support. By switching to clean electric appliances powered by renewable energy, families can save money while reducing their environmental impact.

Joel Adler’s Sunnukiah captures this vision beautifully - showing how light, creativity and renewable energy can power both tradition and transformation. That’s why JCN is proud to amplify this artwork alongside Waverley Council, connecting public art with real, accessible climate action.