Melbourne community reacts after anti-Semitic Hanukkah massacre in Bondi
Premier Jacinta Allan has been jeered and booed at a Caulfield vigil on Monday evening after the deaths of 15 innocent people in Sydney on Sunday.
Premier Jacinta Allan was jeered and booed at a special vigil on Monday evening following the deaths of 15 innocent people in Bondi over the weekend.
At least 1000 people — unified in their grief — gathered at Caulfield Hebrew Congregation as part of a vigil for those lost.
Those in attendance took every available space inside the venue, many seen standing in the aisles and out the door in a show of support for a shattered community.
Following the singing of the national anthem, Zionism Victoria president Elyse Schachna led the vigil by acknowledging those politicians — from across the political spectrum — who attended the event.
When Ms Allan’s name was referenced, a chorus of sustained boos rang out among the crowd.
Conversely, when Liberal leader Jess Wilson’s name was called, the crowd erupted in cheers, as were other Liberal MPs.
Other politicians, including Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny federal MPs Josh Burns and James Paterson were also in attendance.
Zionist Federation of Australia chief executive Alon Cassuto called out the “monsters” behind the attack, sharing stories from those at the event on Sunday evening.
“It was pure and utter ideological extremism,” Mr Cassuto said.
A defiant Mr Cassuto proudly proclaimed that despite the hatred and fear, Jews were “not going anywhere”, a statement that was responded with a rapturous round of applause
The emotional crowd rallied around each other throughout the vigil, many sharing knowing looks, gentle hands on shoulders or solemn pats on the back, anyway to share and acknowledge the pain shared among the congregation.
Some in the crowd were overheard sharing in the disbelief and shock from the events seen at Bondi.
“I was supposed to be there,” one man was heard saying.
One proud Jewish man told the Herald Sun while he was not surprised by yet another attack on his people, it was especially painful to have occurred so close to home.
“It’s a shock to the system … it’s just so not Australia,” he said.
There was a noticeable and heavy police presence along Inkerman Rd, with members dozens of plain clothed officers and vehicles seen roaming the grounds outside the Congregation.
Several members from the Community Security Group also held firm outside the venue, with strict security measures put in place upon entry.
Hundreds of members of Melbourne’s Jewish community also gathered at Federation Square on Monday night for an emotional vigil.
In what was originally scheduled as a week-long Chaunkah celebration of live music, love and joy, scores of people instead came together to mourn the lives lost in the horrific Sydney terrorist attack.
A strong presence of police and security patrolled the outskirts of the Federation Square as the community remained on high alert.
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner Ro Allen addressed the crowd, and spoke out against the “targeted attack on Jewish people”.
“The Jewish community is part of our community, and hate directed at any member of our community is hate against us all,” they said.
“Yesterday’s devastating events have cast a long shadow over our community.
“Jewish people and people of faith should be free to worship, gather, pray and celebrate together.
“I feel shocked and distressed at the needless violence, as we all do.”
“I struggle to imagine what you are all feeling,” they said.
“Hate is characterised by false stereotypes, negative assumptions and misdirected blame, and it signals that some people are less worthy of dignity and respect.
“Hate leads to discrimination and vilification and often descends to violence.
“For this festival of light, my hope is that the smallest light burns brightest in the darkness.”
Musical performances from Cantor Dov Farkas, Simon and Adam Starr and Band, Joshua Batten, and Karen Feldman and Amy Zakar Banner had the crowd singing and dancing, providing a small moment of happiness in an otherwise devastating night.
It came as members of Melbourne’s Jewish community started questioning whether they should flee Australia for Israel in the wake of the worst mass shooting since the Port Arthur massacre.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said there was no intelligence to suggest an attack in Melbourne and encouraged the Jewish community to forge ahead with Hanukkah events after 15 innocent people were shot dead at Bondi Beach.
Premier Jacinta Allan has denied that Australia has permitted anti-Semitism as she warned anyone holding pro-Palestine events this weekend not to use the moment to “cause division”.
Former Governor calls for stronger laws
Former Governor of Victoria Linda Dessau labelled the Bondi terror attacks as a “failure in leadership at every level.”
Speaking to Neil Mitchell and Tony Moclair on 3AW, Ms Dessau said that there is a “permissiveness” about anti-Semitism due to a lack of political “will”.
“Although there has been much talk, it hasn’t been backed by the action that is required,” Ms Dessau said.
“Comfort and consolation right now are appropriate by themselves but they are not enough. Condemnation of what’s happened is not enough.”
A former judge of the Family Court, Ms Dessau called for the “strongest” laws, more education, and a renewed non-political approach to combating anti-Semitism.
Ms Dessau also criticised pro-Palestine rallies across Australia, saying they were hate speech masquerading as free speech.
“From the very first rally at the Sydney Opera House just after October 7, what we actually saw was flagrant anti-Semitism,” Ms Dessau said.
“That’s not freedom of speech, that’s hate speech. And since then, what we’ve seen is more rallies, more hate speech, more ignorant slogans … and now [the] murders of innocent Australians.”
Ms Dessau would not comment on whether Australia’s conditional recognition of a Palestinian state contributed to Sunday night’s attack, but the former Governor said she was “heartened” by a statement of support from the Australian National Imams Council.
Federal Labor MP Josh Burns, who is Jewish, said the attack was the end result of a long period of “dehumanisation and intolerance”.
“This was the indiscriminate killing of people because they were Jewish,” he said.
“There was a level of dehumanisation and intolerance brought to life in order for perpetrators to undertake this devastating attack.
“There is no such thing as trivial anti-Semitism – it needs to be confronted in all of its forms.”
Mr Burns said he was doing baby preparation with his heavily pregnant partner, Victorian MP Georgie Purcell, when his staffer called with the news on Sunday night.
It was a call the Macnamara MP had expected at some point following years of growing anti-Semitism.
“It is something we’ve been very concerned about for a long time,” he said.
“You can’t walk into a Jewish school or institution without going through gates and guards.”
Rabbi leads prayers at special Victorian cabinet meeting
East Melbourne Synagogue’s Rabbi Dovid Gutnick has led prayers at a special Victorian cabinet meeting.
Premier Jacinta Allan posted photos of the Hanukkah prayer and moment of silence for the victims of the “evil attack” on her social media on Monday afternoon.
“It is a dark moment for our nation,” she wrote.
“But today, we came together to light a Hanukkah candle.
“A reminder that among the darkness, there is light and hope.
And no evil act of terror can ever be allowed to diminish that.”
Police urge Hanukkah events to go on: ‘We’ll keep them safe’
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush on Monday gave the green light for the Jewish community to forge ahead with Hanukkah events across Melbourne.
They include the Pillars of Light festival at Federation Square which will run each night this week.
He encouraged Jewish community event organisers to continue with plans but to let police know.
“Our advice to them is to make sure we know what they are and we’ll be there to support them and keep them safe,” he said.
“We’ll be there to make sure that those celebrations are conducted safely.”
The chief commissioner said there was currently no intelligence to suggest an attack in Melbourne but that thousands of police would be deployed across the Jewish community and the city to provide assurance.
“Last night, we conducted 180 visits across Melbourne and Victoria, and we will continue to do that as the Jewish community continue to stand strong and celebrate Hanukkah,” he said.
“And we will be there to ensure that you are safe, because it is your right, like all Victorians, to celebrate your faith and to go about your life without fear.”
Well-known Melbourne Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann, who organises the Pillars of Light festival, urged Victoria’s Jewish community not to give into despair.
“In moments like these, when we truly feel the darkness closing in, we become painfully aware of just how dark the world can feel. And yet tonight, and for the next 6 nights, we will light Chanukah candles,” he said on Monday.
“Chanukah reminds us that the Maccabees did not wait for everything to feel safe, bright, or resolved. They began with what they had – one small jug of oil, barely enough for a single night. And they lit it anyway. That first act of courage is what began the miracle.
“In times of darkness, we do not give in to despair. We summon the courage of the Maccabees and choose to act.
“Tonight please join us at the Pillars of Light multicultural festival at Fed Square from 7pm to 9.30pm to spread the light, on this second night of Chanukah. Join us in a vigil for those who tragically lost their lives at Bondi, and pray for a refuah shleimah for those who were injured.”
Melbourne Jews applying for Israeli citizenship
One of Australia’s most prominent Jewish leaders has blasted the Albanese government for ignoring “the answer” to stamping out Jewish hatred and has revealed Melbourne Jews are making plans to flee overseas.
Speaking outside Caulfield Synagogue, alongside state and federal Liberal MPs, including Jess Wilson, Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion revealed that local families were so fearful they were making applications for Israeli citizenship, suggesting the terror attack was the final straw.
“I’ve been hearing for the last two years, since 7 October, 23, (and) the consequences here in Australia, that the Jewish community is feeling uncertain about their place in Australia,” he said.
“People have taken up or made applications for citizenship to Israel.
“People have tried to get European Union passports.
“And that is all not coming from a positive place, fear.
“I’ve already heard in the last 12 to 16 hours of people that are now making decisions (to move overseas).”
Mr Aghion lashed the government for failing to respond to a strategic plan from Australia’s anti-Semitism envoy, Jillian Segal, handed down five months ago.
The plan included screening foreigners trying to enter Australia for anti-Semitic views or affiliations and stripping taxpayer funding from arts bodies and universities if they failed to combat anti-Semitism.
“There has been no response of any type,” Mr Aghion said.
“In fact, it’s a tragedy that barely a week ago, I stood outside the ruins of Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne with the leadership of the International Jewish community and called for that strategic plan to be implemented.”
“Jewish community leadership were then hosted at a beautiful Sabbath lunch by a rabbi who is now no longer with us because he died on Bondi Beach.
“The answer and the starting point is to implement that plan.”
‘Our parents would be turning in their graves’
Stephen Rose, the son of a Holocaust survivor, was one of many congregants filing into Caulfield Shule for 8am prayer on Monday morning, where there was a heavy security presence.
Despite being born and raised in Melbourne’s southeast, Mr Rose said he and his family were heavily considering fleeing to Israel, saying there was nowhere else for them to go.
“Where else are we going to go?” he asked.
“Our parents would be turning in their graves.”
He said descendants of Holocaust survivors who frequent Caulfield Shule were talking about leaving Australia.
“We are continuously let down by our government,” he said.
“Do you know any other community that has to put up with this.
“Our kids go to school and there are guards outside.”
Two men, who wished to remain anonymous, said the community had anticipated something sinister would occur during Hanukkah — a time that should have been about celebration.
“We didn’t know what was going to happen, but we knew something would,” said one of them.
“Our beautiful festival is supposed to bring light into the world, and now it has been tainted.
“We are fed up, we are frustrated.”
Sidra Kranz Moshinsky and Gideon Kline, from the Jewish Museum of Australia, said the massacre was the “logical tragic outcome” of anti-Jewish behaviour and hate speech endured by the community in recent years.
“The Jewish community has been living in a heightened state for the last two plus years,” Ms Moshinsky said.
Jacinta Allan: ‘Not a day for politics’
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has visited the St Kilda Hebrew Congregation in Melbourne following the Bondi massacre, assuring the local community that the local police presence will be stepped up for the foreseeable future.
Asked whether political leaders across the nation had done enough to stamp out anti-Semitism, Ms Allan said today was “not a day for politics”.
“The reason why I say that today is not a day for politics is because hate thrives on the politics of division,” she said.
She also denied that Australia has been too permissible to anti-Semitism over the past few years.
Ms Allan warned any pro-Palestine organisers planning on holding events this weekend not to use this moment to “cause division”.
“Now is most certainly not the time to use moments and opportunities to drive division in our community,” she said.
The Premier said she understood the anger in the Jewish community over the incident, recognising that there was “more to do”.
She asked Victorians to call out anti-Semitism in every day life, including online.
“I think what we need to understand is that some of the what some might think is casual language is nothing but casual,” she said.
Ms Allan said she believed there would be a need to look at gun reforms but that it was too early to determine what legal changes were appropriate.
“I understand both the Prime Minister and the Premier of NSW were asked similar questions and I echo what they’ve said,” he said.
“I think there will be a need to examine the legal framework.
“We do need to wait and get that intelligence from policing agencies and other intelligence agencies before we make any final determinations.
“But there is no doubt the questions of what strengthening of laws, and I say that not just in relation to violence … needs to be considered.”
Jewish hatred left to ‘fester’: Wilson
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said the violence was the result of a failure to shut down hateful and violent CBD protests, and rising levels of Jewish hatred within Australian institutions.
Flanked by Jewish leaders and federal and state Liberal MPs outside Caulfield Shule, Ms Wilson said Jewish hatred had been left to “fester” for too long.
“We have seen a rise in violent protests on our streets, week in, week out, in our CBD,” she said.
“And what those protests have done is they have been spreading messages of hate and that message of hate has now spilled over into violence.”
Ms Wilson said it was clear that current firearm prohibitions were not working and that she would support reforms to ensure there are proper safeguards around ownership and licences.
Devastated Jewish community pays tribute to Bondi victims
The streets in Ripponlea and Caulfield were quiet and sombre on Monday morning following the attack.
Devastated members of the community arrived at the burnt down Adass Israel synagogue to pay their respects to those killed in Bondi on Sunday night.
Fresh flowers were placed outside the synagogue, where one man could be seen kneeling on the ground and praying.
Jarod, who asked that his surname not be published, told the Herald Sun he hoped the entire Victorian and Australian community would unite in the wake of the tragedy.
“Those people, those kids, did not deserve what happened to them,” Jarod said as he wiped away tears.
“I’ve come here today to pay my respects.
“We need to rise above hate … love and positivity will always outweigh hate.”
Jarod said Ahmed el Ahmed, the heroic father who disarmed one of the gunmen, deserved formal recognition.
“This guy should be nominated for (an award) for his sacrifice,” Jarod said.
Several members of Melbourne’s Jewish community shared their shock and devastation over the attack, but were too fearful to speak out publicly out of fear for their own safety.
Police increase patrols in Jewish heartland
Victoria Police has sent extra officers to the heart of Melbourne’s Jewish community as a precaution, and will step up its presence around synagogues.
In a statement Victoria Police said there was “no threat known locally” but recognised that fear was circulating in the community.
“Victoria Police joins Australia in expressing its shock and distress at the unfolding events in Bondi this evening,” a spokesperson said.
“As a precaution we are immediately deploying additional resources to the Caulfield and broader Glen Eira area to provide reassurance to the local Jewish community.
“We are also immediately increasing police resources allocated to Operation Park, established in October 2023 to monitor and co-ordinate the investigation of offences associated with the Middle East conflict, which are predominantly targeted at Jewish people.”
This includes an increased police presence around places of worship, as well as schools and community halls.
It comes after the Community Security Group sent out an alert on Sunday night that the Chanukah event at Caulfield Racecourse had been cancelled “out of an abundance of caution”.
Jewish schools ‘stand with our brothers and sisters’ in Sydney
Melbourne’s Jewish schools have expressed their heartbreak over the tragic scenes from Bondi Beach.
“We extend our heartfelt wishes for a refuah shleimah to all those who have been injured, and we mourn the tragic loss of life resulting from this attack,” Leibler Yavneh College said in a statement on social media.
“We stand with our brothers and sisters in Sydney and wish them strength, comfort and resilience in the face of this tragedy.”
The school wrapped up classes last week, with teachers’ last day understood to be tomorrow.
Yeshivah College also took to Facebook to share its support for those caught up in the horrific act of hatred.
“The Rebbe teaches that a little light dispels much darkness,” it said.
“As we light the Chanukah menorah, we reflect on the pain felt following the tragic attack in Bondi.
“Our hearts and tefillos are with the victims, the injured and their families.”
At The King David School, Principal Marc Light said the community was “drawing strength from each other”.
“At this tragic time we have met with our staff, and reached out to our students who are on school holidays, reassuring them that their safety is our utmost priority and letting them know where they can reach out for additional support should they need it,” he said.
“As we have throughout history, we are drawing strength from each other and our tradition, leaning into the light of Chanukah to help dispel this darkness.”
Mount Scopus Memorial College remained open on Monday despite the Bondi incident leaving the school community shaken “to its core”.
In a statement, the school said it was heartbroken and it stood in “unwavering solidarity” with the Jewish community.
“We extend our deepest sympathies and prayers to the victims and their families, praying for complete healing for those that are injured,” it said.
The school will continue with classes until the end of Tuesday, with it being the last day of the school year.
“We have mobilised additional support services from our incredible wellbeing team across the school, to all students, staff as well as the wider college community who may need assistance processing this news,” the school said.
College Principal Dan Sztrajt also shared his words of support for his school and the wider Jewish community.
“We are a community defined not by our grief but by our resilience, our hope and our unbreakable spirit,” he said.
“Guided by the light of Chanukah, we will always stand together, reaffirming our unwavering commitment to Jewish Life.”
‘Biggest response since Black Saturday’: Thousands of Victorians give blood
Thousands of Victorians rushed to give blood on Monday following Sunday’s horrifying terrorist attack in Bondi.
It comes after the Red Cross’s Lifeblood donation service put the call out to donors nationwide, noting on Facebook it had “transferred blood from multiple states to support the need in Sydney”.
Lifeblood spokeswoman Rachel Wells said the state was witnessing “the biggest community response we’ve seen since the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009”.
“As of 1pm AEST we’ve seen 20,000 appointments booked today,” she said.
“That’s 15,000 more appointments than a normal Monday.”
By Monday afternoon, there was a line of more than 25 people outside the Lifeblood donation centre in Caulfield, which sits in the heart of Melbourne’s Jewish community.
A rush of donors was seen in other states too, with Lifeblood’s website experiencing an outage on Monday afternoon as thousands rushed to make appointments.
Lifeblood is calling on those with the highly sought-after O-negative blood type in particular to donate due to its universal compatibility with all patients.
It comes as more than 35 patients remain in hospital following the horrific assault on Sydney’s Jewish community, including at least eight who remain in critical condition.
Taking to social media, many Victorians expressed how keen they were to chip in following the tragedy.
“Are any of the Lifeblood centres in Melbourne taking walk-ins?” asked one on Facebook.
“My local one is over capacity and I’d love to contribute somehow!”
“Just booked mine in online, glad there’s something I can do to help from Melbs,” wrote another.
Donors can either make an appointment online, or attend a walk-in appointment at their local Lifeblood clinic.
‘Target on their backs’: Why Jewish kids need to know about Sydney attack
