“Light will win”: Australians gather in unity and remembrance for Bondi victims

Speaking in the weeks following the attack, President of the Rabbinical Council of NSW Rabbi Shua Solomon, spoke of the trauma created by the two gunmen who took the lives of the fifteen innocent bystanders at the Chanukah by the Sea event near Bondi Pavilion.

“This unspeakable horror has touched every Jew and every Australian,” Rabbi Solomon said.

He also described the concept of a mitzvah, which in Jewish tradition is an act of kindness, compassion, and a moral responsibility.

“We ask every Australian to honour the memory of our lost, not only with words but with action, unity and faith – by doing good.”

Chair of the NSW Faith Affairs Council, Right Rev. Dr Michael Stead of the Anglican Church of Australia, spoke of common spiritual injunctions across all faith traditions.

“At the core of our faith communities is a commitment to love and compassion.”

Dr Stead echoed Rabbi Solomon’s call to action.

“The NSW Faith Affairs Council encourages everyone to take part in the One Mitzvah for Bondi campaign, to spread warmth and kindness to our fellow Australians.”

Speaking at an emergency gathering of the NSW Faith Affairs Council the day after the attack, Rabbi Nochum Schapiro of Chabad House requested ‘unambiguous support’ from the Australian public.

Faith leaders and community organisations from across Australia condemned the violence and called for unity and compassion. Representatives of the NSW Faith Affairs Council offered prayers and thoughts for those impacted, describing the attack as an assault on the safety and cohesion of the wider Australian community. Bishop Stead said faith leaders stood together “with one voice” to condemn the attack and support Jewish Australians.

Islamic organisations were among the first to express their sympathy and solidarity with the Jewish community. On the night of the attack, the Australian National Imams Council rejected antisemitism “in all forms” and reaffirmed a shared responsibility to uphold respect and social cohesion, noting that violence against one community ultimately harms all Australians. The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils stated that “every person has the right to safety, security, and peace and we condemn, in the strongest terms, any act that shatters that fundamental right”. The NSW Ecumenical Council called on all people in NSW “to stand together in solidarity and remain steadfast in rejecting violence and resisting fear and division…Chanukah reminds us that light shines only when love and justice prevail.”

The Grand Mufti of Australia condemned the attack in unequivocal terms, while Hindu and Christian organisations reaffirmed their commitment to interfaith solidarity and peaceful coexistence.

Interfaith unity was powerfully demonstrated at a vigil following the attack, where Jewish and Muslim leaders stood together in grief and solidarity.

As the country mourns, the collective response across faiths and communities has underscored a shared resolve to reject violence, uphold dignity, and stand together in compassion and unity.

Heroism of Ahmed El-Ahmed

At a December vigil for the victims of the shooting, NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip paid tribute to Ahmed El-Ahmed, the Syrian born father of two and business owner “whose unbelievable bravery saved so many lives”, before sharing a message from Ahmed himself.

“The Lord is close to the broken-hearted. Today, I stand with you, my brothers and sisters,” said El-Ahmed in a message read out by Ossip.

Community organisations also highlighted El-Ahmed’s courage in intervening during the attack and disarming one of the assailants at great personal risk. His actions have been widely recognised as instrumental in preventing further harm and saving lives, and as a powerful example of moral courage in the face of violence.