I was shocked and horrified by the December 14, 2025, antisemitic attack on Jews celebrating Hanukkah on Bondi Beach. Fifteen people were murdered and 40 were injured. It traumatised victims, their families and the members of the Jewish community. It was the worst terrorist attack on Australian soil. It appalled all people of goodwill, here in Australia and around the world.
I immediately reached out to Rabbis and to other Jewish friends to share their grief and tears and to assure them of my solidarity. Messages of sympathy and support for the Jewish community flowed in from churches, other faiths and interfaith groups, including the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations and from government, community and civic organisations.
The violent assault on those celebrating the Jewish festival was an act of evil, of destruction, of darkness. Ironically, the feast of Hanukkah is a celebration of salvation, of hope, of light. That hope is expressed vividly by the Prophet Isaiah in the reading proclaimed at Christmas Midnight Mass: “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow, a light has shone” (Is: 9:2).
Even amid the terror unleashed on Bondi Beach, there was light in the darkness. There was the Jewish couple who lost their lives trying to prevent the attack. There was the Muslim who risked his life to disarm one of the killers. There were those who remained in the danger zone to protect others and the first responders who entered it to tend to the wounded. And there was the tsunami of support and solidarity from Bahai’s, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, people of all faiths and worldviews, all expressing our common humanity.
The subsequent politicisation and divisiveness by some were unedifying. Laws have been enacted to curb hate speech and to further restrict access to guns. But the trauma of that night will linger for years to come.
The Bondi terrorist attack against Jews is part of the many conflicts raging piecemeal around the world, in Gaza, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan, Ukraine, just to mention a few. All religions oppose war and violence. All religions propose peace. When miscreants use politics, race or religion to divide people, religious believers have a responsibility to promote unity and reconciliation.
Silence is necessary. We must create a space for the “other”. We have a duty to listen to the victims, to understand their pain and hurt. But silence alone is ambiguous. It can mean genuine solidarity, but it can also condone evil. It needs to be interpreted. The wrong kind of silence is betrayal.
As well as listening, we also have a duty to speak up for the victims, the voiceless, to ensure that their legitimate concerns are heard, that they are respected and treated with dignity, not left wounded and dying at the side of the road (c.f. Lk 10:25-37), the discarded victims of others’ march of conquest.
I believe that we Christians who confess a crucified and risen Saviour have a special responsibility to respond to the conflicts of our time. We follow a Christ who chose to identify with the powerless, the poor, the vulnerable, the victims. He went to the cross willingly and obediently. He was silent before his tormentors. We follow a Christ who triumphed over death by the power of love. He is risen. His light shines on all the world and all its peoples. His first words to his disciples were, “Peace be with you”. (Jn 20:19, 21, 26).
By our baptism, Christians have been inserted into Christ’s death and resurrection. We are called to follow Him. We are to be ambassadors of peace and reconciliation among all peoples and all creation.
Rev Dr Patrick McInerney
Regional Director of Oceania
directoroceania@columban.org.au
Listen to "From the Director – Light in the darkness"
Related links
- Read more from The Far East - March/April 2026
