Messages
Messages from home and abroad
Ms. TAKAICHI Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan, sent the following message of condolences to Anthony Albanese, following the shooting incident: “I am deeply saddened and profoundly outraged by reports of the mass shooting that occurred at Bondi Beach in Sydney, targeting the Jewish community during a Jewish celebration and resulting in numerous casualties. Such a brutal act of terrorism is absolutely unacceptable under any circumstances. I offer my heartfelt prayers for the souls of those who lost their lives and extend my deepest condolences to their bereaved families. I also sincerely wish for the swift recovery of all those who were injured. At this difficult time, Japan stands with Australia. I express my strong solidarity with the Government and the people of Australia.”
Pope Leo XIV has denounced the “anti-Semitic violence” behind the Sydney Chanukah massacre as he prayed for the victims and the “gift of peace and fraternity” this holiday season.
“We pray for those who suffer from war and violence, in particular today I want to entrust to the Lord the victims of the terrorist attack in Sydney against the Jewish community.”
“Enough of these forms of anti-Semitic violence!” he said. “We must eliminate hatred from our hearts.”
On behalf of Youth for Peace and Dialogue Between Cultures, I, Zakaria El Hamel, express our shock
and heartbreak over the horrific shooting that took place on the evening of December 14, 2025.
Our deepest condolences go to the victims, the injured, and their families. We mourn the loss of life and stand with the Jewish community in Australia and worldwide during this distressing time.
In this moment of grief, we stand in solidarity with Sydney’s Jewish community, with Australia, and with all those united against antisemitism, hatred, and terror.
Zakaria El Hamel Youth for Peace and Dialogue Between Cultures, Morocco
“We are horrified by the brutality of this attack, which comes at a time when Australia has seen a terrible rise in antisemitism. The disturbing wave of antisemitism around the globe has struck anxiety and fear into the hearts of every Jewish community. Some have faced harassment, vandalism, and discrimination. Others, violence as brutal as what we saw yesterday in Sydney.
“This attack is the latest reminder of the work that remains to end the scourge of hatred towards Jews. To combat this disease of antisemitism, we must summon the strength to take action against this ancient hatred, and the courage to press on in the face of such violence against Jewish people at home and abroad.
“We must speak out against all discrimination, from heinous acts like today to the normalization of antisemitic rhetoric, and the attempts to blur the line between political disagreement and antisemitic hate. And we give thanks to the bravery of people like Ahmed al Ahmed, a fruit shop owner, who risked his own life on Bondi Beach to stop others from losing theirs.
Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
Australian Test captain Pat Cummins
Cummins’ young family are eastern suburbs locals in Sydney. The star paceman’s wife and two children are with him in Adelaide for this Test.
“Like most other Aussies, I was just horrified watching on,” Cummins said.
“I’d just put the kids to bed and flicked on the news as that was coming through. Me and my wife were kind of watching in disbelief.
“It’s a place that’s just around the corner from where we live and we take the kids there all the time.
“It hit home pretty hard.
“I really feel for the Bondi community and the Jewish community in particular.
“Seeing the kind of the scenes over the last couple of days has been pretty powerful as well.”
Woollahra Mayor Sarah Dixson: On behalf of the whole Woollahra community, I strongly condemn the terrorist attack in Bondi that occurred last night, on the first night of Chanukah, as thousands gathered to celebrate the Festival of Lights by the beach.
This targeted attack on our Jewish community has left us devastated and appalled. Such a senseless, deplorable act of hatred and terror has no place in Australia.
Last night, the worst of our fears were realised and today the Woollahra community mourns together, stands with and wraps our arms around our Jewish community.
The terror attack resulted in the death of innocent individuals, and left many injured. As people were attended to last night by first responders and heroic members of the public, we saw acts of bravery from civilians and first responders alike.
We are so grateful to the emergency services personnel and members of the community who were on the scene and offered their courage, compassion and care.
I have spoken with local representatives at all levels of government, the local police area command and faith leaders to communicate our full support.
Given the scale of the attack, authorities are asking Australians who are able to donate blood to please come forward, especially those with O blood types.
Today, and in the next few days and months ahead, I encourage everyone to reach out to members of the Bondi and Jewish communities, colleagues, friends, neighbours and strangers, to let them know they are supported and loved. This is something simple we can all do.
I join the community in urging the Federal and State Governments to take stronger action. Action which we have been calling for, for more than two years.
A united and full force must be used to stem the antisemitism and hate, which is now terminal in Australia.
Today, the eyes of the world are on our community, our state, and our nation. Inaction cannot, and will not, be tolerated.
Courage to Care Australia extend our deepest sympathies to the families who have lost loved ones, including 87-year-old Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman, who died protecting his wife, Larisa. The profound tragedy of Mr. Kleytman’s death—a man who survived the Holocaust only to be murdered in an act of antisemitic terror decades later—reminds us of the enduring and deadly nature of hatred. Our thoughts are with all those who remain hospitalised and recovering from their injuries, their families, and all those traumatised by this senseless attack.
Our hearts also go out to our wonderful and treasured volunteers, many of whom are Jewish, who are feeling profound hurt and pain right now. They dedicate themselves to teaching the lessons of the dangers of discrimination in all its forms and standing against hatred yet find themselves living in a time when such violence can still occur. We stand with them in their grief and in their resolve.
In this darkest moment, we also witnessed extraordinary courage. Ahmed al-Ahmed risked his own life to disarm one of the gunmen, sustaining multiple gunshot wounds in the process. His selfless actions undoubtedly saved countless lives. Boris and Sofia Gurman, 61, were killed after they gave their lives in an attempt to stop the shooter. These acts of heroism are extreme examples of the Upstander values that Courage to Care champions—the willingness to act against hatred when we bear witness to it.
This tragedy demonstrates what our volunteers teach students every week: left unchecked hate escalates.
Discrimination never begins with violence—it starts with seemingly harmless stereotypes, jokes, and slurs. When left unchallenged, these harden into prejudice, then escalate to discrimination, violence, and ultimately can, as history shows, lead to genocide. The most effective—and easiest—place to stop this deadly cascade is at the beginning, by confronting stereotyping before it hardens into the hatred that fuelled this attack.
There is no place in Australia for violence, hatred or terror of any kind. This moment must serve as a clear line in the sand for our country. We need strong, principled leadership that unequivocally rejects antisemitism, racism and all forms of extremism, and that affirms the safety, dignity and belonging of every Australian.
We support the call by Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, for accelerated action to address the rising tide of antisemitism in our country. Education, legislative reform, and unwavering commitment from all levels of government are essential to creating lasting change.
At times like this, our response must be united, compassionate and resolute. We owe it to those who have lost their lives, to survivors like Ahmed al-Ahmed who embodied the Upstander values we teach, and to future generations, to ensure that hatred does not define us—but that courage, care and collective responsibility do.
Chair, Tom Curtis, said: “The tragedy at Bondi Beach has shaken Australia to its core. Hate doesn’t start with violence—it starts with the prejudices we allow to go unchallenged in our everyday lives. We owe it to those we’ve lost to ensure that from this moment Australia unites in rejecting antisemitism and all forms of extremism. The time for action is now—through leadership, through education, and through each of us taking a stand against racism and antisemitism by choosing courage over indifference.”
We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of life at Bondi last Sunday.
We send our deepest love and condolences to the families and loved ones of those who were taken.
We also extend our friendship, solidarity, and unwavering support to the Sydney Jewish community.
It has been deeply moving to witness the outpouring of messages, care, and support from friends and colleagues across Australia and around the world. Many within the TAU community have reached out, and their compassion has been a source of strength.
The growing pressure on governments gives hope that the gravity of these issues will finally be recognised and met with meaningful action.
We offer whatever support and resources we have to assist you as you process the devastating events of Sunday.
Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need any assistance or support.
Over Chanukah, may we bring light in memory of those we have lost, holding hope for safety and peace ahead.
Victorian and NSW presidents, Roger Mendelson and Andrew Silberg, and CEO David Goldman of the Australian Friends of Tel Aviv University.
The New York Giants
We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of life following the fatal shooting at Brown University and the targeted attack on the Jewish community in Sydney, Australia.
We extend our deepest sympathies to the victims, their families, and all those affected.
As we begin the holiday season, a time meant for light and togetherness, these acts of hate and violence have no place in our world at any time.
We stand united with the Brown University community, the Jewish community, and the people of Australia during this difficult time.
Having visited Australia last year I am keenly aware of the strengths and beauty of the country as a whole and of the Jewish community in particular, which only drives home even further how wrong and unjust and profoundly evil this attack was. My heart goes out to the families of the victims and to the injured and the community as a whole, as you mourn the terrible loss of life and grapple with the meaning and impact of the events.
We Jews have sadly never been strangers to the loss and pain caused by those who hate, but we have always also found the reservoirs of strength and purpose needed to overcome and to continue to build for the future. I’m sure that’s what the Jewish community of Australia will do in the weeks, months and years ahead. From our own experience at the Library, particularly since October 7th, we know that there is immense power in coming together and connecting to our history, to the resilience we can learn from the stories of our forebears and from each other. It’s in that spirit that I want to convey to you the solidarity and support of everyone here at NLI, and our readiness to help you and the community on that journey in whatever way we can.
Oren Weinberg CEO The National Library of Israel
Gina Rinehart
For more than two years, Australians – Jewish and non-Jewish alike – raised the alarm. From the scenes at taxpayer funded university campuses, where no or little action took place to quell even the death chants, the ABC spewing out antisemitism, yet taxpayer funds continued to be splurged on them, there has been no shortage of warnings that this hatred was escalating out of control. Yet too often, these warnings were dismissed by people who should have known better, backbone was required but went missing in action.
“Australians are mourning the family members and friends who were murdered during what should be a beautiful time of year. Amongst the mourning and sadness there is also anger that this was allowed to happen. All Australians should care about this.
“When people come to Australia, they should leave hatred, violence and terrorism behind. If they cannot do that and cannot embrace the values that made this country great, then they should not be here.
“Gun reform should not become a convenient distraction from the failure to deal with the causes of violent extremism. Australians are not stupid enough to swallow this distraction, it’s not the gun that fires itself, or the knife, or the bomb, it is the person using them. Real action is required, including dealing with all those who championed the antisemitic propaganda, and diverted from the truth about terrorist actions.
“I send my deepest sympathies to all Australians affected by the Bondi killings, and who are still in fear of their lives due to inadequate government action. Please Australians, continue to demand real action, so this does not happen in our country again.”
Maccabi World Union and the global Maccabi family extended our deepest condolences and heartfelt solidarity to you following the tragic and painful event that has shaken your community.
We are deeply saddened that this tragedy occurred on the first night of Chanukah, a time that is usually marked by togetherness and the lighting of candles in Jewish homes and communities. This makes the loss felt even more profoundly.
Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those affected during this heartbreaking time. No words can truly ease the grief, but please know that you are not alone.
The Maccabi movement is built on the values of unity, mutual responsibility, and the unbreakable bond between Jewish communities worldwide. In moments of sorrow and crisis, these values stand stronger than ever. We stand with you in grief, in support, and in shared determination to uphold life, dignity, and resilience.
May the support of family, friends, and the wider Jewish world bring comfort and strength in the days ahead.
With deep sympathy and solidarity,
– Michael Siegal, President MWU
– Amir Peled, Chairman MWU
– Assaf Goren, Chairman Maccabiah
– Roy Hessing, CEO MWU
