Heartbroken Bondi mourners light path out of darkness
As Australia’s Jewish community mourns the deaths, new details are emerging about the gunmen responsible for the horrific mass shooting on Bondi Beach.
Hanukkah events and vigils were held across Australia on Monday night; Thousands of mourners laid flowers and left messages to remember the 15 people killed in a massacre at a Jewish festival.
At an emotional ceremony on Bondi Beach, Rabbi Yossi Shuchat lit the candles of a five-foot-tall menorah and told those gathered: “Lightness will always continue, where there is light, darkness cannot continue.”
The Pillars of Light Festival also took place in Melbourne’s Federation Square, where participants gathered to sing, pray and watch Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann light a menorah.
Addressing the crowd, Rabbi Kaltmann thanked everyone “for being here in solidarity.”
“We come together with strength, not fear,” he said.
“By lighting the menorah, we will illuminate our hearts and make this darkness shine.”
Hundreds of people attended a prayer vigil at the Chabad Bondi synagogue in Sydney’s east, the place of worship for many of those affected by Sunday’s attack.
Harry Guth said he attended to show solidarity with those killed and injured in the attack.
“I have to admit this is no surprise,” Mr. Guth said.
“Obviously I was shocked, but I was expecting something to happen if there were burnt cars, burnt shuls (synagogues), burnt restaurants, graffiti on the walls.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the gunmen – Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid Akram, 50 – acted alone and did not appear to be part of a terrorist cell but were guided by radical Islamic ideology.
Sajid, who was the licensed owner of six firearms and came to Australia on a student visa in 1998, died at the scene after a brief shootout with police.
Australian-born Naveed is also still in a coma in hospital after the shooting and is expected to face charges.
Speaking on the ABC’s 7.30 program after being briefed by the spy agency’s chief executive, Mr Albanese said neither man was on ASIO’s radar just before the shooting.
Young Akram was investigated by ASIO for six months in 2019 over his links to two men who were later jailed, but there was “no evidence” he had been radicalised.
15 people, aged between 10 and 87, were killed at the shooting range.
There are 26 injured patients receiving care in Sydney hospitals, 12 of whom are in a critical condition.
The injured include Constable Scott Dyson and another unnamed NSW Police officer, both of whom are said to be in a serious but stable condition.
Their families expressed their “heartfelt gratitude” to first responders and hospital workers whose actions saved lives.
Members of the Jewish community also gathered to celebrate the second night of Hanukkah on St Kilda beach and at the Caulfield Shule in the south-east of the city on Monday night.
Rabbi Effy Block of Chabad St Kilda said her congregation was reeling from “broken hearts, deep shock and deep pain.”
“Yes, our hearts are heavy. Yes, we are in pain… but we will not break,” he said.
“We will not be silent and we will not surrender to fear”
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