The below statement and message was sent to the Bay Area Telegraph:
It’s with profound sadness that I share our statement in response the tragic news from Australia. The deadly terrorist attack at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach is sending shock waves of grief and fear through our community. Such horrific events are becoming far too frequent.
–Jeremy Russell, Bay Area Jewish Community Relations Council
As we prepare to light the first candle of Hanukkah, Jewish communities around the world are reeling from news of a horrific mass shooting during a large public Menorah lighting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. While details are still emerging, authorities have made clear that this was a terrorist attack targeting Jews, in which at least 11 people were killed and many others injured. We mourn the victims – may their memory be a blessing – and stand with their families and the Australian Jewish community during this time of profound grief.
Tragically, such acts of antisemitic violence are becoming far too common in the U.S. as well: From Pittsburgh, PA, in 2018, to Poway, CA, in 2019, to Colleyville, TX, in 2022, and the two deadly attacks earlier this year in Washington, D.C., and Boulder, CO. We have seen antisemitism seep into our civic institutions – school, universities, government institutions, media and the arts – leading Jews to feel less safe in public spaces and less comfortable expressing their identity publicly. It is critical for our nation’s leaders to counter the dehumanization of Jews and Israelis, and stop the normalization of antisemitic rhetoric in public discourse. Today’s events are another reminder of where this hatred can lead.
JCRC Bay Area is calling on government officials and diverse civic leaders to demonstrate their allyship and solidarity, and to show up this week at menorah lightings and other gatherings. We are grateful to Governor Gavin Newsom and the many elected officials across our region and state who have already taken to social media to speak out.
We are also working closely with the Secure Community Network (SCN) and the Jewish Federation Bay Area to strengthen the safety and well-being of our community during this holiday season. Federation’s Community Security Initiative, which is coordinating with local law enforcement and intelligence services, has confirmed there are currently no known Bay Area threats. Nevertheless, community members are encouraged to exercise vigilance, especially at public events. It is incumbent upon every community organization to keep in close contact with local security agencies and ensure established safety protocols are followed.
Undoubtedly, many menorah lightings this week will become gatherings in remembrance of today’s tragedy. May the light of Hanukkah brighten our hearts, even in this moment of darkness. Now, more than ever, we must continue to educate and build bridges across divides.
