Bondi Jewish Shabbat dinner: Chairs left empty for Hamas hostages

In a show of solidarity, Sydney’s Jewish community placed 200 seats at a long table in North Bondi, one for each of the hostages held in Gaza.

There were 200 empty seats at a dinner table at Bondi beach on Friday afternoon - one for each of the estimated hostages held in Gaza.

The Shabbat dinner was attended by more than 200 members from Sydney’s Jewish community, who anxiously await news of the whereabouts of those taken by Hamas.

Organiser and local Jewish mother Lauren Placks helped put the event together after the group saws a similar demonstration in Israel, and felt it was “their responsibility” to bring it to Australian shores.

“It’s important to remember each of their names. Every Jew is a part of our community. We are all family,” she said.

Derryn from Sydney, attended the event to place photos of those who have been taken. She told the Saturday Telegraph she “worries for them all daily”.

Shabbat dinner with 200 empty plates representing the hostages taken by Hamas. Picture: Monique Harmer

“When the air strikes started my son (Ramr) called me and said “Mum, what do I do,

I’m a wreck, it’s just tragic. We have to help get these hostages home to their families,” Derryn said.

Ramr has chosen to stay in Israel to volunteer, cooking meals for communities who are displaced.

Organiser and local Jewish mum Lauren Placks.

Volunteer holding a hostages flyer taken by Hamas.

The atmosphere at North Bondi was sombre as the community gathered around the smiling faces on kidnapped posters.

Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages, Alex Ryvchin - co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry - said Sabbath is an important time for Jews to pause work and rest and re-devote themselves to their faith and traditions, but while “203 hostages are in captivity living through the most unimaginable terror”, the Jewish community cannot possibly experience joy.

Gabi David supports Israeli children taken by Hamas. Picture: Monique Harmer

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, putting on a Shabbat dinner with 200 empty plates representing the hostages taken by Hamas. Picture: Monique Harmer

“We owe it to them to keep them in our minds and in our hearts at all times and to fight for their immediate and unconditional release,” he said.

With security increased at local Jewish schools, Ms Placks shared how frightened the local Jewish community and children feel.

“The community is shaken by these global events, even the local events. We’ve had to shift our perspective as a Jew in Sydney”.

“We ask our fellow Australians to stand with us, stand against barbarism and terror and join us in saying, set them free.”

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has also launched its #SetThemFree campaign on social media this week.

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Originally published as Bondi Jewish Shabbat dinner: Chairs left empty for Hamas hostages