Community Expresses Grief Over Bondi Beach Shooting

In the wake of the horrific mass shooting at a Chabad Chanukah event in Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia, that killed at least 15 people, Jewish organizations — both local and national – shared statements of grief and compassion.

Chabad of North Fulton shared, “Today should have been the first night of the Festival of Light. Instead, we woke to heartbreaking news of a terror attack at a Chanukah gathering in Sydney, Australia … Lives are shattered and families are grieving. Our hearts are heavy with pain, shock, and sorrow. And yet, tonight we are meant to gather for our own public menorah lighting in Avalon. Many are asking: How can we celebrate on a day like this? How can we sing, smile, and light candles in the face of such darkness? While I don’t have all the answers, there is one thing I know; this is exactly what Chanukah calls us to do. Chanukah was never about waiting for easy or safe moments. It was born in darkness, and it teaches us to respond to hatred with light, to fear with courage, and to terror with Jewish pride. We do not hide. We do not cancel our light. We stand taller. Tonight may be cold outside, but our hearts are warm — with faith, unity, and resilience. Let us stand together. Let us light together. Let us answer darkness with light. With strength and faith.”

Chabad of Georgia issued the following statement, “Chanukah begins tonight, and our Chabad centers across Georgia have been working tirelessly to ensure a meaningful, uplifting, and joyous holiday for communities throughout the state. At the same time, our hearts are heavy, and our global Jewish family is mourning. We are devastated by the terror attack at the Chabad Chanukah event in Sydney, Australia. An attack on the Jewish community in Sydney is an attack on Jewish everywhere. We are one people. We mourn together, and with G-d’s help, we will once again celebrate together. We pray for the victims and their families, and we honor their memory by performing mitzvahs and acts of goodness in their merit.”

Federation shared, “Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta is horrified by the antisemitic terrorist shooting in Australia. This was a deliberate terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community in Sydney as they celebrated the first night of Chanukah and must be loudly and clearly called out as antisemitism. The security of the Jewish community is the top priority of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. Our community security initiatives are on full alert for the Chanukah celebrations in their communities, working with all our law enforcement partners. We mourn those killed in this horrific shooting, send our comforts to their families, and wish a speedy and full recovery for the injured. Our community will never retreat in the face of hatred, and will never refrain from carrying on our Jewish traditions. Rather, we will use every tool at our disposal to make sure our communities are safe and that our lights burn all the brighter.”

The Temple’s Senior Rabbi Peter Berg said, “I shared with our community a famous picture taken in 1932 of a chanukiyyah in the window overlooking a Nazi flag. The picture was taken by Rabbi Akiva and Rachel Posner of their chanukiyyah placed in the window of their home in Kiel, Germany, directly across the street from Nazi headquarters. On the back of the photo, Rachel Posner wrote: ‘Our light will outlast their flag.’ That is the message I share with our community this year. That we must continue to light our chanukiyyot publicly and proudly, even sometimes in defiance. And that our responsibility is, in these very dark days, to bring even more light into the world.

Rabbi Albert Slomovitz, executive director of the Jewish Christian Discovery Center, shared, “The hateful people who perpetrated this act represent evil itself as do those who shoot innocent college students. What has been gained by these acts? This senseless violence will not advance any cause except that of evil. We, who oppose such acts, must take a stand for light. The light of shared connections, shared heritages and shared humanity. Chanukah, Christmas, and Kwanza are all holidays that focus on light. Light represents education, understanding and mutual respect. The heroic Muslim man who battled one of the shooters understood that concept. We all must feel the radiance of the light of mutual respect and dignity. Once that light is extinguished for one group of people, we all end up living in the shadows.”

State Rep. Esther Panitch shared, “The terrorist attack at Bondi Beach that murdered 15 innocent people celebrating the first night of Hanukkah is an unspeakable evil. Among the victims were children, Holocaust survivors, and two beloved rabbis who dedicated their lives to bringing light into the world. This massacre is not isolated. It follows a documented five-fold increase in antisemitic incidents in Australia since Oct. 7, 2023, including Iran-directed arson attacks on synagogues. Australian Jewish leaders warned their government repeatedly that escalating violence was inevitable without decisive action. Their warnings went unheeded, and now families are burying their loved ones. As a co-chair of the Georgia Israel Caucus and the only legislator from our community in the Georgia General Assembly, I know that what happens to Jews in Sydney matters deeply to Jews across Georgia — from Atlanta to Savannah, from Columbus to Augusta. The targeting of Jews celebrating a festival of religious freedom is an attack on our shared values and our way of life. To my fellow Jewish Georgians: We see the rising tide of antisemitism here at home and abroad. We grieve with our Australian family. And we refuse to be cowed into hiding our identity or dimming our lights. We all know that a small light can pierce even the deepest darkness. May the memories of those murdered be for a blessing, and may their families know no further sorrow.”

Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff posted on X, “Alisha and I are heartbroken by the news from Australia, where innocent Jewish families were attacked celebrating the first night of Hanukkah. This brutal attack has shaken the Jewish community in Georgia and nationwide, but Jews refuse to be intimidated by cowardly antisemitic violence. Our prayers are with the families of those brutally murdered and all impacted by this heinous act. May their memories be a blessing.”

Ted Deutch, CEO of American Jewish Committee, posted on X, “Bondi Beach is one of the most beautiful places in the world. And Jewish kids celebrating the joyous holiday of Hanukkah with their families is likewise one of the most beautiful images of our people. Both have now been ripped to pieces. Sickened. But not surprised. Everywhere across the Jewish world, we are mourning the loss of our family in Australia. We are praying for the families who lost loved ones. We are praying for a full recovery for the injured. And we are sending every bit of strength and resolve that we can to our dear friends in the incredible Australian Jewish community.”

Global Jewry released the following statement, “We are heartbroken by the recent attack in Bondi Beach and the pain it has caused within the Australian Jewish community. Our thoughts are with those directly impacted, their families, and the broader community as they navigate this difficult moment. Global Jewry exists to connect Jewish leaders, organizations, and communities across borders, especially in moments when support, coordination, and communication matter most. While each local community knows its own needs best, we want to be clear that no one is facing this alone. To our members in Australia: please know that there is a strong global network standing with you. If there are ways we can help, whether through introductions, sharing resources, amplifying needs, or simply connecting you with others who can support, we encourage you to reach out.”

From the American Zionist Movement, “As we celebrate Chanukah, a time of light and resilience, we do so with heavy hearts following the horrific attack in Bondi Beach, standing in solidarity with the victims, their families, and the global Jewish community.”

From the Democratic Majority for Israel, “We are sickened and heartbroken to wake up to news of a massacre targeting Jews celebrating the first night of Chanukah at Australia’s Bondi Beach. This terrorist attack makes painfully clear that antisemitic violence remains a grave and growing threat. Jews must be able to gather, pray, and celebrate their religion openly and safely. From the Tree of Life to Poway, from Boulder to Washington, D.C., and now Bondi Beach, the rise of violent antisemitism demands urgent and sustained action from our leaders and communities. At this moment of darkness, as we prepare to begin Chanukah, we draw strength from the story of the Maccabees, who faced hatred and persecution with courage and resilience. That spirit endures today. Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those impacted by this horrific act.”

And Amb. Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, released the following statement, “I am deeply shocked and saddened by the deadly terror attack near Bondi Beach in Sydney, where members of the Jewish community were gathered to mark the first night of Chanukah. My immediate thoughts are with every Jew across Australia and around the world in this painful moment. No community should ever fear ​coming together to celebrate its faith, traditions, or identity … Make no mistake, this will not break us. We will continue to stand proudly, united against all forms of violence and hate, and in unwavering solidarity with Jewish communities everywhere.”