It was only a matter of time. A thousand Jewish people were gathered at Sydney’s most famous beach, Bondi, to celebrate Hanukkah and the triumph of light over darkness. This eight day Jewish holiday commemorates the victory of the Jewish Maccabees over the Seleucid Syrian Empire in 164 BC, when Jerusalem and the Second Temple, which Seleucid Emperor Antiochus IV had desecrated. The lighting of the menorah, the nine- branched candlelabrum, symbolises this victory of light over darkness.
Yet on 14 December 2025, darkness mHanade an unwelcome appearance at Bondi. A father-son duo Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram began to open fire on the crowd. They planned the attack for months and were inspired by the Islamic State. In the ten minutes of terror, fifteen Jews were killed, along with Sajid. It was Australia’s worst terrorist attack, but not its
The light fought back.
Ahmed al Ahmed, a Muslim, confronted and disarmed one of the shooters. Others attempted to do the same. Jews bravely returned to Bondi Beach on subsequent nights to celebrate the remainder of Hanukkah. Yet the question remains: How did such great darkness come to Australia?
After the indescribable horrors of the Holocaust in Europe, a large group of survivors found
their ideal place of refuge: Australia. With the second-largest community of Holocaust
survivors outside of Israel, Australian Jews lived their lives in relative peace and harmony.
Yet even in Australia, Jewish schools, synagogues, community centres and the like
routinely installed high fences, metal detectors, CCTV cameras and armed guards. All this
was a precaution … just in case.
Then came the 7th of October 2023 -Hamas unexpectedly invaded Israel and killed 1,200
- and the deluge began: Anti-Semitism skyrocketed in Australia. Menacing shouts of ‘F**k
the Jews ‘ and ‘Gas the Jews’ were chanted two days later by pro-Hamas protestors on
the steps of the Sydney Opera House. University campuses became war zones for Jewish
students. Graffiti, taunts, physical assaults, protests outside the synagogue and then, the
unthinkable: The firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea, Melbourne.
The harassment wouldn’t stop.
While the large weekly, well-organised protests were clearly anti-Israel, why the attacks on
Australian Jews? Many have no connection with the Jewish state, and some of the
younger ones may be left-leaning and politically anti-Israel. Never mind: to be Jewish and
Israeli are the same.
Please understand: this kind of activity was unheard of in Australia until the 7th October
deluge. In 2023, there were 495 anti-Semitic incidents; by 2024, it rose to 2,061. The
deluge of 7 October meant vicious, violent, murderous anti-Semitism had come to
Australia.
Why has the match of anti-Semitism ignited into a widespread Aussie bushfire? The
Scriptures speak of increased hostility to the Jews and Israel in the last days (Zechariah
12 and 14). Increased immigration from the Middle East and holding the balance of power
in marginal electorates make the Muslims a primary group to attract votes.
The Jerusalem Post: Antisemitic incidents rose in Australia by over 300% since October 7 - reportby Michael Starr, December 3, 2024.
Australia’s left-of-centre federal government has been accused of a weak response in the
face of this growing plague. While claiming to support Israel, it has consistently shown
overt deference to the other side. They recognised Palestine at the United Nations (and
received the praise of Hamas for it). The government brought into Australia several
thousand poorly vetted Gazans, more than any other nation. The Home Affairs Minister
gave a ‘meet and greet’ at Sydney Airport to welcome some of the incoming Gazans. The
government refuses to utter the words ‘radical Islam’ as the source of the current outbreak
of anti-Semitism (though it is not the only one, historically). The Jewish community’s
dissatisfaction at the federal government’s handling of the anti-Semitism epidemic was
symbolised by the fierce booing and jeering the prime minister received at the Bondi
memorial service. At the National Day of Mourning, the PM apologised for his failure for
not protecting the Bondi victims from this evil.
Of course, all Australians, including Muslim citizens, should be treated with dignity, respect
and equal protection under the law. The point is that the obvious pandering of some of the
western Sydney electorates was interpreted as a green light by anti-Semites nationwide.
Failure to give a robust push back to the rise of anti-Semitism in Australia sent the
message ‘there are no consequences.’ The ‘hate festivities' became more frequent,
intense, and brazen until the day deadly barbarism visited Bondi Beach. The weak
response made the massacre inevitable.
Anti-Semitism is a scourge that must be confronted. It is more than anti-Jewish racism: it’s
anti-western, anti-Judeo-Christian, the foundation of Western civilisation. The anti-Semites
temporary takeover of three iconic sites: The Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, and Bondi
Beach symbolised their anti-West ambition.
The dark shadow of anti-Semitism has a bad habit of moving from the ‘Saturday people to
the ‘Sunday people.’ Anti-Jewish behaviour will eventually turn against the Church. In
these last days, it is no coincidence that both anti-Semitism and anti-Christian persecution
are on the rise worldwide.
What can we do about all this? Be informed, prayerful, and take appropriate action. On 22
January 2026, Australia observed a National Day of Mourning for the Bondi victims. The
theme: Light will win. Do these three steps, and you will be part of that winning light, every
time (Matthew 5:14-16).
The worst mass shooting (Port Arthur, Tasmania, thirty years ago gets that label).
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