Hundreds of Perth locals gather at The Perth Hebrew Congregation Synagogue vigil for Bondi massacre victims
Hundreds of people gathered at the Perth Hebrew Community Synagogue in Menora on Thursday night for a memorial service honoring the 15 lives lost in the Bondi Beach massacre.
Mourners and well-wishers stood together in silence as they remembered the victims and offered support to survivors and grieving families in the wake of the horrific attack.
President of the Jewish Community Council of Western Australia, Dr. Michael Levitt described the killings as a tragedy that would reverberate far beyond Australia.
“This is not just a local tragedy, it’s a global tragedy,” Dr Levitt said.
“15 people were murdered and this has echoes of Jewish history.
“Two hundred years from now, people in the Jewish world will still be talking about what happened at Bondi Beach.”
Dr Levitt warned that long-standing concerns about the link between hate speech and violence were being ignored, saying society was struggling with disbelief, distress and anger.
“We warned about this link. And those warnings, from the most senior voices in Australian Jewish life, were ignored,” he said.
He said the responsibility now rests entirely with governments.
“They saw clearly what was happening and had the clearest warnings of what could happen.”
He acknowledged that it was “too late” for the victims and their families. Stronger laws and decisive action are still needed, Levitt said.
“It is never too late to stop a downward cycle,” he said.
“Anti-Semitism is carried out by anti-Semites. Treating this as some kind of negative weather event is to completely miss the point.
“We know who they are. They carry banners with anti-Semitic slurs. They brazenly carry anti-Semitic flags. They proudly declare themselves. The government knows who they are and needs to address this issue.”
Speaking via Zoom, Rabbi Shua Solomon, President of the Rabbinical Council of NSW, said Sunday felt like “October 7” all over again.
“I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that in many respects we are facing our own version of October 7,” he said.
October 7, 2023 is the day Hamas carried out a coordinated terrorist attack on Israel, killing nearly 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.
“There is no one in society who is not affected,” Rabbi Solomon said.
“We stand together in both our sadness and our shock.
“Although we still have a long way to go, we can rebuild, we will rebuild, and we will continue to stand as proud Jews in this great country.”
Prime Minister Roger Cook addressed the crowd with heartfelt words of solidarity.
“In times like these, it is difficult to find the words to adequately describe the events of the past week,” he said.
“This is the time for Western Australian unity.”
Mr Cook acknowledged the importance of Hanukkah, which was being celebrated at the time of the attack, and called on the community to find hope and strength in his message.
“His message calls on all of us to shine a light in the darkness, to find the willpower to overcome despair. He also calls on the Jewish people to show their faith proudly and publicly,” he said.
“Now is the time to love each other, embrace each other in your communities and neighborhoods. And do it publicly and proudly.
“We are very proud to call you our family and friends.”
He also promised that the government would take action against antisemitism.
“I promise you all that you will continue to lead a government determined to stamp out antisemitism in all its forms. We will strike at the heart of this shameful scourge of antisemitism. To make sure it has nowhere to hide in Western Australia,” he said.
Those attending the meeting included WA Governor Chris Dawson, WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch, Labor Cabinet ministers and MPs, as well as Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas and National Party leader Shane Love.
Many participants had difficulty holding back tears as they remembered the victims.
Deputy Prime Minister Rita Saffioti reflected on the horror and human cost of the attack earlier on Thursday. He said he had a hard time imagining how 10-year-old Matilda felt as her family buried her on Thursday.
“It’s hard not to burst into tears when you think about being there with your daughter and family on a happy day,” she said.
“And then to be shot in cold blood is truly horrific. I can’t imagine how that family survived every day after that.”
Jewish community member Deborah Cohen-Jones said the night brought her hope.
“I think I’m actually hopeful tonight,” he said.
“I was feeling really angry on Sunday.
“I think the main emotion that Australian Jews feel is frustration and being really angry that we’re screaming into the void and no one is listening. But tonight I feel such great hope.”
Another member of the Jewish community, Debbie Schaefer, hopes this terrible event will inspire change in the nation.
“I don’t believe it was intentional, but it happened, I can’t take that back,” he said.
“But we can move forward and try to create a new narrative for all of Australia.
