There’s been an outpouring of grief and help from Canadians for the Jewish neighborhood in Australia, with many saying they’re “horrified” after two males shot and killed 15 folks and injured 40 others at a Jewish vacation celebration at Sydney’s world-famous Bondi Seashore on Sunday.
“I used to be actually horrified,” mentioned Bobbi Zahra, a Jewish lady residing in Halifax who mentioned she is aware of members of Sydney’s neighborhood. “I believed, ‘It’s Hanukkah. We will’t also have a Hanukkah celebration?’ I imply, Hanukkah itself again within the day was a political factor, it was about warding off marauders, however Hanukkah right this moment is a celebration of sunshine, it’s a celebration of hope.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney echoed Zahra’s feedback concerning the horror of the incident, and mentioned on X that Canadians stand with Jewish folks “in all places.”
“Canada stands with the folks of Australia and Jewish folks in all places in sorrow, and dedication by no means to bow to terrorism, violence, hatred and intimidation,” Carney wrote.
The violence erupted on the finish of a scorching summer time day when hundreds had flocked to the seashore, together with lots of gathered for the Chanukah by the Sea occasion celebrating the beginning of the eight-day Hanukkah competition.
Police mentioned emergency companies had been known as to Bondi about 6:45 p.m. native time, responding to stories of pictures being fired. Video filmed by onlookers confirmed folks in bathing fits operating from the water as pictures rang out. Separate footage confirmed two males in black shirts with rifles firing from a footbridge resulting in the seashore as sirens wailed and folks cried out within the background.
One dramatic clip broadcast on Australian tv confirmed a person showing to deal with and disarm one of many gunmen, earlier than pointing the person’s weapon at him, then setting the gun on the bottom.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns known as the unidentified man a “real hero.”
Police say 13 folks died on the scene and 42 folks, together with 4 kids, had been taken to Sydney-area hospitals. Police mentioned two of the hospitalized folks, a 10-year-old woman and 40-year-old man, have since died in hospital, bringing the full to fifteen.
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One gunman, a 50-year-old, was fatally shot by police and the second, a 24-year-old man, was arrested and in vital situation, authorities mentioned. Police added that one of many gunmen was recognized to the safety companies, however there had been no particular risk.
At the least 40 folks had been confirmed injured, together with two law enforcement officials.
Officers declared the incident a terrorist assault.
‘We don’t give in to terror,’ rabbi says
Regardless of the assault, some are talking out in defiance, with some rabbis within the Larger Toronto Space saying they plan to proceed with their very own Hanukkah celebrations.
“It’s chilling to understand that this was meant to be the primary public menorah lighting on the planet this Chanuka – an try and unfold worry in all places, to make Jews suppose twice about gathering, singing, or shining overtly,” mentioned rabbis Avraham E Plotkin and Meir Gitlin of the Tamim Academy of York Area in a press release. “And that’s exactly why tonight’s Chanuka Menora lighting and Backyard of Lights program and live performance issues greater than ever. Tonight, we don’t give in to terror.”
Levi Gansburg, the rabbi at Chabad on Bayview, mentioned his synagogue will proceed to unfold mild and positivity with its personal celebrations this week.
“We’re right here to remain, we’re right here to contribute, and a bit of bit of sunshine dispels a lot darkness, and we’ll proceed to be that little mild that may dispel evil and eradicate hate as soon as and for all from this earth,” Gansburg informed International Information.
Chabad, an Orthodox Jewish motion that runs outreach centres around the globe and sponsors public occasions throughout main Jewish holidays, recognized one of many useless as Rabbi Eli Schlanger, assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and a key organizer of the occasion.
Gansburg confirmed to International Information that the rabbi has ties to Toronto.
Canadian police businesses mentioned on Sunday they’re offering extra assets to make sure security.
In a press release posted on X, Toronto police mentioned they had been intently monitoring the occasions in Australia and “any exercise that will goal Jewish folks,” and would proceed to guard its communities.
Police Chief Myron Demkiw mentioned in response to world occasions, the service would enhance its presence in public areas, locations of worship and colleges and that in the course of the vacation season, residents would see extra officers current.
Vancouver police additionally mentioned they’re taking “proactive steps” to make sure the protection of the neighborhood throughout Hanukkah, together with extra officers on patrol and current at “key areas and occasions” inside the Jewish neighborhood.
Antisemitic assaults have roiled Australia, the house to about 117,000 Jews, in keeping with official figures.
Incidents together with assaults, vandalism, threats and intimidation, surged greater than three-fold within the nation in the course of the 12 months after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and the next battle that erupted within the months that adopted, in keeping with the federal government’s Particular Envoy to Fight Antisemitism Jillian Segal.
Final 12 months, synagogues and vehicles had been torched, companies and houses graffitied and Jews attacked within the cities of Sydney and Melbourne.
Canada is not any stranger to such assaults both, with antisemitic incidents spiking throughout the nation after the Oct. 7 assault.
In keeping with Statistics Canada, incidents of hate crimes in opposition to the Jewish neighborhood jumped to 900 in 2023 from 527 the earlier 12 months. In 2024, the quantity remained excessive at 816.
It’s why within the wake of the Bondi Seashore incident, Jewish organizations in Canada as soon as once more known as for extra motion from governments.
“I believe condolences for the fallen in Australia and the sympathy for the survivors could be very welcome and significant, nevertheless it does nothing to cease the subsequent assault,” mentioned Noah Shack, CEO for the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.
“What we’d like now’s for Canadians to get up and acknowledge that the identical factor might occur right here, for our governments to take pressing motion in any respect ranges, to acknowledge the risk and tackle it in partnership with legislation enforcement, to make sure that communities are saved secure and on the similar time that we’re addressing among the root causes which are driving this extremist violence in international locations throughout the Western world.”
—with information from International Information’ Heidi Petracek, Lexy Benedict Jeff Semple and Stewart Bell, and The Related Press
