Bondi Beach Terror: “Fundamentally Changed” Australia Left Reeling as 15 Die in Unimaginable Massacre
- Jewish community leaders say the attack has “fundamentally changed” Australia, calling for more action to combat antisemitism
- Fifteen innocent lives lost, including Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a prominent figure in the Jewish community
- Rabbis and community leaders urge Australians to rally around the Jewish community, saying “we need to take our country back” from hatred and fear
<p ‘=”” ‘.=”” ..=””>The usually tranquil Bondi Beach was transformed into a scene of utter chaos and devastation on Sunday evening, as a senseless terrorist attack left 15 people dead and a nation in mourning. The Jewish community, already reeling from a surge in antisemitism, was dealt a devastating blow in the midst of Hanukkah celebrations.
One of the victims, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, was a beloved figure in the community and the driving force behind the event. His death has sent shockwaves through the community, with Rabbi Motti Seligson describing him as “the beating heart of the community in Bondi”.”
“This isn’t just a Jewish issue,” Rabbi Seligson declared. “This is an Australian issue. This kind of thing has been going on largely unchecked for years now, and we’re seeing it around the world. This is something that civilisation needs to confront.”
Rabbi Mendel Kastel, who lost his brother-in-law in the attack, issued a heartfelt plea to Australians. “I think it’s time that people actually step up and say, ‘You know what, we need to step forward and say we are with the Jewish community, we care about you, we’re here to support you.’ We’re not just looking after ourselves, we are part of the fabric of this country, we contribute to this country, we participate in this country and therefore it’s important that people step up and make sure that we feel safe.”
The attack has left the Jewish community feeling vulnerable and afraid, with many leaders warning that antisemitism is spiralling out of control. “We’ve seen antisemitism, we’ve seen people get hit, we’ve seen people get punched, people knocked over, but this is a whole other level,” Rabbi Kastel said.
Alex Ryvchin, from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, painted a bleak picture of a community forever changed. “This stops life, this destroyed whole worlds and things will always be different for us. Things can’t go back to normal. It’s fundamentally changed this country… Maybe the innocence and the purity and the goodness of this country that we thought was there, maybe was never there.”
Federal Labor backbencher and Jewish MP Josh Burns slammed the rise of antisemitism, saying Jewish Australians had been “dehumanised” over the past two years. “The minimisation of targeting of Jewish people, the minimising of or legitimising targeting of Jewish institutions, and legitimising of targeting Jewish people – this is something that especially on the progressive side of politics, we need to confront head-on.”
As the nation struggles to come to terms with the horror of the Bondi Beach attack, leaders from all faiths and political backgrounds are being urged to promote unity and take action against hate. “Our nation’s leaders are charged with bringing us together, keeping us together as a country,” said Bilal Rauf from the Australian National Imams Council. “They need to ensure that the people behind this are pursued and face the full force of the law. That support is provided to those affected.”