Israel’s Herzog marks a week since Bondi attack
'Tonight, on the eighth and final candle of Chanukah, I want to say to the Jews of Australia: the people of Israel are with you'
President Isaac Herzog called the rise of antisemitism “a global emergency” at a ceremony on Sunday marking one week since the deadly terror attack in Sydney.
“The rise in Jew-hatred across the world is a global emergency. The battle against antisemitism must be everyone’s battle against antisemitism,” Herzog said at the ceremony held at the National Institutions Building in Jerusalem.
“This is an urgent call to action to prevent the next catastrophe. We will not stand for this.”
The ceremony was attended by chairman of the World Zionist Organization Yaakov Hagoel, officials of the Australian Embassy in Israel and members of the bereaved families.
Herzog said combating antisemitism required strong and tough measures and strong leadership.
“In each nation, combatting antisemitism requires very strong and tough measures, and strong leadership. It requires ordinary people rejecting lies and bias, embracing diversity, humanity, and truth,” he said.
Herzog addressed the Australian Jewish community directly, noting that instead of lighting the first candle of Chanukah, families ran for cover.
“Tragically this year, instead of lighting the first candle, our sisters and brothers ran for cover. Instead of singing ‘Maoz Tzur’, our families searched for shelter. Instead of ‘Shehecheyanu’, there was Kaddish,” Herzog said.
“Tonight, on the eighth and final candle of Chanukah, I want to say to the Jews of Australia: the people of Israel are with you. Despite thousands of miles between us, we feel your pain, we see your courage under fire, we share your sense of abandonment, shock, and horror.”
Herzog said he hoped to visit Australia soon.
“I hope to be able to visit you all soon in Australia and bring you a message of love from the State of Israel, to hug you and console you on behalf of the nation and people of Israel,” he said.
Herzog praised the Australian heroes who intervened at Bondi Beach.
“The Australian heroes who intervened and came to the rescue at Bondi, who came to pay their respects, will forever be remembered for their kindness,” he said.
Herzog emphasised Jewish resilience and unity.
“We will not allow the hatred to break us. We will not allow terror to diminish our light, our unity, our peoplehood, our mutual responsibility, our eternity. Together we will defeat this darkness,” he said, ending with the declaration: “Long live the Jewish people eternally, Am Yisrael Chai.”
Fifteen memorial candles were lit to memorialise those lost in the attack.
Earlier on Sunday, Herzog spoke with Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, whose son-in-law Rabbi Eli Schlanger was murdered in the attack, and with Tirosh Levi, the sister of Israeli citizen Gefen Bitton, who was seriously injured while heroically attempting to disarm the terrorists.
During his call with Ulman, the director of Chabad of Bondi and head of the Rabbinical Court in Sydney, Herzog expressed his deepest condolences.
Herzog wished a speedy recovery to Schlanger’s wife Chaya, who was shot in the back and hospitalised along with their six-week-old baby, the youngest of their five children.
Herzog also spoke with Levi, the sister of Gefen Bitton, who acted heroically by attempting to disarm the terrorists. Shot three times, Bitton remains hospitalised in serious condition.
Herzog praised Bitton’s exceptional courage under fire and sent his wishes for a swift recovery.
On behalf of the State of Israel, Herzog extended his condolences to the families of all the victims and conveyed his wishes for a speedy recovery for all those injured during the terror attack.
The Bondi Beach terror attack on December 14 killed 15 people during a Chanukah celebration, including Rabbi Eli Schlanger.
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