Light over darkness: Shabbat dinner to reclaim Bondi

Waverley Council is inviting members of the public to register their interest by this Friday in attending a community Shabbat dinner at Bondi Pavilion on 29 May, part of a series of initiatives aimed at fostering healing and solidarity in the wake of the 14 December terror attack.

The dinner is being held in partnership with the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and is intended to provide “an opportunity for collective healing” following the attack.

Mayor Will Nemesh told JWire the event was an occasion to build relationships, bridge generational and cultural divides, and celebrate the rich Jewish heritage that is an intrinsic part of Waverley’s identity.

“Together, we choose light over darkness, compassion over hatred, and solidarity over division,” he said.

Nemesh said holding the dinner near the site of the attack was a deliberate act of reclamation.

“Holding the community Shabbat dinner near where the terror attack occurred signifies a step towards healing, through an opportunity to make new, positive memories at the location,” he said. “When we come together to break bread and honour the Sabbath, it is an affirmation that we stand firm in our faith and beliefs and that we will not give in to fear.”

The IS-inspired antisemitic attack at Archer Park, adjacent to Bondi Beach, killed 15 people and wounded more than 40 at a Chanukah celebration attended by about 1,000 people.

The guest list will include members of the Jewish and broader Waverley communities, as well as elected officials and community representatives. Given limited space and security requirements, the event will be ticketed differently from other council-run activities.

Members of the public wishing to attend are invited to submit an expression of interest via the council’s website by this Friday, 22 May at 5pm, after which a ballot will be drawn.

Attendees will be asked to donate $20 to the Unite for Bondi Fund. The fund, established by the NSW Government in partnership with Rotary and the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, provides support to survivors and the families of those killed, covering immediate financial relief, medium-term recovery assistance, and longer-term needs including medical care, counselling and rehabilitation.

The dinner is one of many initiatives forming part of Waverley Council’s commitment to social cohesion. Nemesh said the council’s lived experience, combined with its extensive work in combating antisemitism, positioned it at the forefront of that mission.

“We must remain part of these critical conversations and share Waverley’s experience as a model for local government action, to strengthen intergovernmental relationships and advocate for an all-of-system approach,” he said.

He pointed to the council’s existing antisemitism strategy as a model others were following.

“It is encouraging to see other local governments across Australia adopting strategies, passing resolutions and building partnerships with their local communities following Waverley’s blueprint,” he said.

The dinner also coincides with the current exhibition “Holding Light” at Bondi Pavilion Art Gallery. Curated by Shalom Collective and supported by Waverley Council, the exhibition brings together 29 artists responding to the 14 December tragedy, with works shaped by loss, memory and the search for meaning in its aftermath. It runs until 28 June, Wednesdays to Sundays, from 10am to 5pm.

Looking further ahead, Waverley Council will co-host the National Local Government Summit on Social Cohesion and Antisemitism in November, timed to coincide with the lead-up to the first anniversary of the attack. The conference, convened by the Combat Antisemitism Movement, will include keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops and the sharing of practical frameworks on social cohesion.

The Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, established in January and led by Commissioner Virginia Bell, is due to deliver its final report on 14 December, the first anniversary of the Bondi attack.