In a powerful response to tragedy, communities across Sydney have come together in vigils honouring the 15 people killed in Sunday's antisemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach. The gatherings have become poignant symbols of unity, particularly between Jewish and Muslim Australians.
An Embrace of Solidarity in Hyde Park
On Monday evening, a vigil in Sydney's Hyde Park witnessed a moving moment of interfaith solidarity. Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins from the Emmanuel Synagogue in Woollahra addressed the crowd, emphasising a shared humanity. "We are all human beings first," he stated, reflecting on the outpouring of support his community had received.
Following his speech, Bilal Rauf, a special adviser at the Australian National Imams Council, offered his community's "deep heartbreak and condolences." He drew a parallel to the pain felt by Muslims after the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings. In a spontaneous act that captured the vigil's spirit, the two leaders then embraced, prompting applause from the assembled crowd.
Multi-Faith Memorials Across the City
Other vigils and memorial events have echoed this theme of togetherness. The group Sydney Friends of Standing Together hosted a gathering originally planned as a Hanukah and Christmas celebration, which was transformed into a memorial for the Bondi victims. Approximately 50 people attended, hearing the Jewish Kaddish prayer alongside Muslim and Christian blessings and secular messages.
Ann Porcino, an attendee, described the multi-faith blessings as "us reaching for each other." Palestinian Australian Dr Munther Emad also spoke, expressing a shared sense of grief and a determination to defeat darkness with unity.
A Determined Response to Hatred
The collective response aims to prevent the attack from sparking further division or violence. Fahimah Badrulhisham of the Muslim Collective noted the vigils provided "an open space where people are willing to see the humanity and the realness of everybody else."
Rabbi Kamins highlighted the spontaneous acts of kindness—flowers left at his synagogue, letters from neighbours and faith leaders—that have followed the attack. His hope is that as the community processes the trauma, it will be able to respond to these "open hands and open hearts" to build a better Australia.
The vigils in Sydney and Melbourne have served as a crucial reminder that in the face of an act driven by hate, the overwhelming public response has been one of compassion and collective mourning, transcending religious and secular backgrounds.
