Opera House Lights Up For Bondi Victims As Thousands Gather At Vigils
Image: MICK TSIKAS/AAP
Thousands of people across the country attended vigils on Monday evening, coming together to grieve and support each other in the wake of the Bondi beach terror attack.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the death toll remains at 15, in addition to the elder gunman, with another 24 recovering in hospital, including two police officers, and civilian Ahmed al-Ahmed, a bystander who disarmed one of the attackers in an incredible display of bravery.
Hundreds of flowers have been laid at a vigil at Bondi Pavilion, where more than a thousand community members gathered in remembrance, with NSW premier, Chris Minns, and opposition leader, Kellie Sloan both attending.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese laid flowers at the makeshift memorial.
Yesterday, Albanese deemed the terror attack an “act of evil antisemitism”, saying that “an attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian.”
Rabbi Yossi Shuchat told the story of Hanukkah to those gathered at the makeshift memorial, and lit the candles on a Menorah that had been brought down to the pavilion to mark the second night of the holiday.
“Yesterday was a tragic event, which words cannot explain,” he said.
“Lightness will always persevere; darkness cannot continue where there is light.”
“We are all also the light”
Mourners also gathered in Hyde Park, where First Nations leaders from organising space, the Black Caucus, held a gathering to condemn racism and violence on Bidiagal, Birrabirragal, and Gadigal lands.
“This is sadly not new for us, and the propaganda going around the media- please do not let your mind and your heart take too much of that in,” said Gumbaynggirr Bundjalung Dunghutti woman, organiser, and poet Lizzie Jarrett.
“Take this in. This is the reality of what happens. When we come together as one, no matter who we are, we come together as a human with a heart that is hurting, and say not on my watch, and definitely not on sovereign land.”
Rabbi Kamins from Emanuel Synagogue and Bilal Rauf from the National Imams Council both spoke of the ways Australians had united in the hours after the attack.
“So many in our Jewish community have received messages of love from leaders in different faith communities, from Palestinian friends and friends around this country, and in so doing, we are now learning we are all just flesh and blood, and we are all also the light,” Rabbi Kamins told the crowd.
Rauf shared similar sentiments, saying the Muslim community, “understand the pain and grief [of] our Jewish brothers and sisters, and that’s why we say loud and clearly we stand with you,” with the pair embracing upon the completion of his speech.
The Opera House was also lit up with a display of a Menorah for the second day of Hanukkah, with Premier Minns saying it was “more important than ever” to stand with Australia’s Jewish community.
“We cannot, and we will not allow Jewish Australians to feel they must hide their faith, their traditions, their religious celebrations or their identity,” he said.
“Lighting the Opera House is a simple but powerful gesture: a message to the world that we cherish our Jewish community, that we honour their courage, and that we stand with them in solidarity and love.”
Australians across the country and the globe were encouraged to light a candle and put it in their front window, with Prime Minister Albanese saying it was important to “show that light will indeed defeat darkness – part of what Hanukah celebrates.”
“We are stronger than the cowards who did this,” he said.
Help and support is available
- Bondi Victim Services helpline 1800 411 822
- Public Information & Enquiry Centre on 1800 227 228
- Supply information to police on 1800 333 000
- NSW Health Mental Health Line, available 24/7 on 1800 011 511
- For crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14
