Horror, Sorrow, Condolences: On the Antisemitic Terrorist Attack on the Jewish Community Event in Bondi Beach
December 15, 2025 – New York, NY:
The Jewish Labor Committee is horrified by the antisemitic terrorist attack on the Jewish community event in Bondi Beach, where a large group had gathered to celebrate the first night of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, often called the Festival of Lights.
In sorrow, we extend our sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives and the dozens injured at this terrible scene of murder and attempted murder, and also to the entire Jewish community of Australia. We can only hope that all of those touched by this tragedy will be able to recover, physically and spiritually, and achieve a renewal of faith and community solidarity in the wake of this heinous assault.
We must also note the extreme bravery of Ahmed al Ahmed, a local shopkeeper, who, while a bystander to this horrific event, selflessly ran up to one of the attackers who was holding a rifle, tackled him, wrestled the gun away, and was himself shot and injured in the confrontation.
The Jewish Labor Committee, formed in 1934 to combat the rise of Nazism and violent antisemitism in Germany, recognizes that the attack in Sydney comes, not as an isolated incident, but the most recent of a rising tide of antisemitic attacks in Australia, and around the world.
We call on our colleagues near and far to speak out when Jews are attacked, even killed, simply because they are Jews, participating in Jewish life -- whether in Bondi Beach, in Manchester, England, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, or Brooklyn, New York.