‘Not one inch’: 14yo Bondi hero’s comment stuns Australia
“Not one centimeter of my body was afraid,” says the teenager hailed as a hero after using his own body to protect two young children during the Bondi terror attack.
Thousands of people flocked to Bondi waterfront on Sunday evening as part of a national commemoration.
A week after the horrific attack that left 15 people dead and dozens injured, community members came together for Unity Night: Light Above the Darkness.
The nation observed a minute of silence at 18.47.
Dignitaries at the ceremony included Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley.
The watch is ending
The vigil ended with the lighting of the menorah and the projection of a beam of light into the sky from the Bondi Lodge.
Among those lighting candles were: Matilda’s father Michael, Rabbi Mendy Litzman, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon, SES volunteer Vladimir Kotlyar, Surf Life Saving CEO Steven Pearce, NSW ambulance CEO Dominic Morgan and Ahmed el-Ahmed’s father.
Even the constant rain was not enough to dampen the crowd’s morale.
Menachem Feldman and Ben Goldstein led the crowd in a rendition of “I Am You, We Are Australian”.
Man who confronted Albo not charged
There were tense scenes as Albanese entered the event on Sunday evening.
He was loudly booed alongside his wife, Jodie Haydon.
A man ran towards the Prime Minister before being stopped by police.
NSW Police said on Sunday evening the man was detained but released without charge.
“The man was given an instruction which was complied with,” NSW Police said in a statement.
‘Not even a centimeter of my body was afraid’
Chaya Dadon, 14, was hailed for finding the courage to protect two young children amid gunfire.
He was shot in the leg and taken to hospital, but was later released and given a rousing hero’s welcome at Bondi a week later.
While being interviewed by TV star Erin Molan, she told the audience that “not one inch of my body was afraid.”
“… I physically felt God hold my hand and whisper, I heard the word, I don’t know if I’m going crazy, but I heard the words.
“‘This is it! This is your mission! This is your purpose!’ he said.
“Most of you now, a big concept of Judaism is that there is a purpose, a meaning to being in this world.
“And at that moment I felt like I was being led in the right direction.”
He said he wanted to share the message of “be a light in a dark space” to the world.
“I’m sure most of you have heard this, I’ve said it many times… We mourn but we grow stronger as a nation,” he said.
“We are growing. Sometimes growing up hurts. We are growing. Life will go on.”
and why not make the most of it?
‘Close the holes’
NSW Opposition leader Kelli Sloane, who was on the beach last Sunday, shared her harrowing story.
“I stand before you as someone who saw the destruction, who came here last week as gunshots were heard, who witnessed the chaos and distress, who saw the injured, who held the hand of those in need,” he said.
He recalled seeing police rushing to the scene with their guns drawn as gunshots rang out.
“And so I did what I could to help a surf lifeguard who said to me, ‘get some bandages,’” he said.
“’What do I do?’ I said. And he said, ‘Close the holes.’
“I ended up sitting next to people and holding their hands and putting blankets over people we couldn’t help anymore.”
A deep vein of antisemitism
PM Minns says Bondi terror attack exposes ‘deep vein of anti-Semitic hatred’ in our society
“History shows us that anti-Semitism started with a phrase, a hymn, and moved to radio broadcasts or, in modern times, to the Internet.
“Then graffiti and Jewish buildings. First property destruction, then arson. Then murder.”
Minns gives exciting welcome
Unlike Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister Chris Minns was given a hero’s welcome
“This crime was an attempt to marginalize, disperse, intimidate and intimidate, but you have resisted this intimidation for thousands of years,” he said.
“Tonight, on this last night of Hanukkah, you took back Bondi Beach for us, thanks to the Jewish community in Australia.”
There is a message from the King
Governor General Sam Mostyn shared a message from King Charles.
“My wife and I are horrified and saddened by the most horrific anti-Semitic terrorist attack on Jews attending Hanukkah celebrations on Bondi Beach,” he said in his message.
“Our hearts go out to everyone so terribly affected, including the police officers who were injured while protecting their communities.
“We commend the police, emergency services and members of the public whose heroic actions undoubtedly prevented further horror and tragedy.
“And finally, in times of pain, Australians have always come together with unity and determination… I know the spirit of community and love that shines so brightly in Australia, and the light at the heart of the Hanukkah festival will always triumph over the darkness of such evil.”
Message from Bondi hero
Addressing the crow, David Ossip, Chairman of the Jewish Board of Deputies, called for a royal commission into antisemitism.
“After two years of escalating anti-Semitism and warnings from the Jewish community and ASIO that lives would be lost, the terrorist attack is still ongoing,” he said to loud applause.
“While we are all shocked and deeply saddened, we are not surprised.
“We feared and doubted that this moment would come.”
He introduced the father of Ahmed Al Ahmed, who saved countless lives by neutralizing one of the armed attackers during the attack.
Mr Ossip also read a message from Mr Al-Ahmed, who is recovering in hospital after being shot during the attack.
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted,” he said to the crowd.
“I am with you today, my brothers. Thank you, my brothers.”
Albanians were booed
Albanese was booed entering the event.
He was also booed and applauded while being introduced by Mr. Ossip.
“Excuse me, excuse me,” said Mr. Ossip, trying to calm the crowd.
Police forced outThere is a heavy police presence in Bondi for the vigil at the world-famous beach.
This reportedly included the deployment of snipers around the area and police armed with long-armed firearms.
Mourners also underwent security screening before being allowed inside.
NSW Police said the increased security did not indicate an increased risk to the public.
“On (Sunday) afternoon and evening, police presence will be increased in Bondi and surrounding areas as part of Operation Shelter.” NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said:
“I want to reassure the community that this does not reflect an increased security alert.
“We know how deeply this tragedy affected Jewish families, friends and the broader community that stood by them.
“Our priority is to ensure that everyone comes together to honor the victims and support each other without fear.
“You will see more police officers than ever before, including those with long-armed firearms. While our priority is to keep our community safe, it is equally important to help people feel safe as they come together to grieve.”
“Tonight is about standing with the community, maintaining space for a respectful vigil and making sure everyone feels supported during this incredibly difficult time.”
Sunday marks a Day of Reflection, a week after attacks in which two gunmen killed 15 people and injured dozens more.
This event is held on the last full day of Hanukkah.
A beam of light will be projected into the sky at the Bondi Pavilion, where thousands of people gathered last week to mourn those killed and injured.
Alex Ryvchin, Co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jews, paid tribute to the 15 victims of the attack and the examples they set for the world.
“You look at the people who were killed, these were special people,” Mr Ryvchin told the ABC on Sunday.
“You look at Matilda’s smiling, joyful face, you look at people like Reuven Morrison, my friend Eli Schlanger.
“These people lived to bring light to the world, so when we talk about honoring their legacy, following their example, it means that after the anger and grief have passed, we must live a life worthy of them.
“We must ensure that the goodness and kindness in their lives is not diminished by their murder.”
Following the attacks, he called for society-wide change to root out antisemitism.
“It’s also largely out of control; whether there will be a future Jewish way of life in this country will be determined by the wider society, the police and the government,” he said.
“Can we meet next year to rekindle the flames once again, or will that be too dangerous?”
Flags across the country are lowered to half-mast.
People are asked to light candles at 6.47pm, the time the attack began last Sunday.
Radio and television channels are also expected to observe a minute of silence at 18.47.
The federal and state governments are also working with the Jewish community on a National Day of Mourning to be held on New Year’s Day.
More to come.
