Ignorant And Violent Antisemitism Must End
People celebrating the first day of Hanukkah on Bondi Beach were targeted by two gunmen on Sunday, 14 December 2025.
With heavy hearts, we express our profound sorrow at the loss of innocent human life in the shooting at Bondi during the Jewish Festival of Hanukkah. Families have been shattered, communities left grieving, and our Jewish brothers and sisters once again subjected to fear, trauma, and hatred. No words can undo such loss, yet silence is not an option.
The link below is a letter from Bishop Anthony Randazzo, the Bishop of Broken Bay.
Letter from Bishop Anthony Randazzo (PDF 189.4KB)
Light a Candle
As a gesture of solidarity, hope, and resilience in the wake of the tragedy. We are encouraged to "light a candle":
- Place a candle in the front window.
- Do so at 6:47pm local time, the time of the attack.
The attack occurred on the first night of Hanukkah, the Jewish "festival of lights". By lighting a candle, we:
- Show support for the victims, their families, and the entire Jewish community.
- Symbolise that "light will indeed defeat darkness".
- Offer a quiet signal that those affected were not alone in their grief and fear.
Day of Reflection
A Day of Reflection was held on Sunday, 21 December 2025 to honour the victims of the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach and to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community. Flags on Australian and NSW Government buildings were at half-mast as a mark of respect for the lives lost and the grief shared across the country.
The Day of Reflection was on the final full day of Chanukah, a time traditionally associated with light, faith and resilience, making the loss felt by the Jewish community even more profound. The Day of Reflection was about standing with the Jewish community, wrapping our arms around them, and sharing their grief as one.
We pause, reflect, and affirm that hatred and violence will never define who we are.
Further information and support is available at the links below.
‘Enough’ of anti-Semitic violence, comments from leaders after the Bondi shooting
www.nsw.gov.au/bondibeachattack