Thousands stand up against anti-Israel Bondi rally
'When they try to dim our lives, we need to shine brighter,' Rabbi Yosef Eichenblatt said at Bondi Beach.
In a heartwarming, unified and predominantly peaceful response to a pre-planned, divisive anti-Israel rally held by a few hundred people on the sand of Bondi Beach on a sunny Father’s Day morning, members of the Jewish community – in their thousands – gathered nearby in an answer of unity, Zionism and pride.
In response to chants of “From the River to the Sea”, they raised Australian and Israeli flags, and sang songs including Oseh Shalom, both nations’ anthems, and prayers together – at one point, even a shofar was blown, adding to the uplifting spirit.
The huge turnout – in which the anti-Israel protesters were outnumbered by about five-to-one – had humble beginnings.
A handful of local Jewish residents had set up a WhatsApp group to brainstorm an appropriate response to the planned “Solidarity with the Sumud Flotilla” rally – whose choice of location was described as “a deliberate provocation” by both Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh and NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip.
Nemesh also said after a man with a Palestinian flag rode a horse on Bondi Beach late on Monday afternoon, “Council is investigating possible breaches of legislation and will take action accordingly.”
Then, Stand With Us Australia (SWUA) stepped up, taking the organising reigns, and created the gathering’s theme of ‘No, Not in our Backyard’, with the clear message: We will not be silenced or intimidated, and we will always choose light over darkness.
A police presence ensured that both sides were kept separated by about 70m throughout, apart from a fleetingly brief isolated incident, in which that was breached.
The SWUA-led gathering started in nearby Archer Park, where that organisation’s chief executive, Michael Gencher said, “I can’t thank the community enough for coming here today, and everyone who helped”.
“The protest there [on the sand] in support of terror and hate, has happened because we have had [only] words, and we have not had actions – and I am calling it out today . . . no more words!
“The [NSW] police minister could have stopped this, the government could have stopped this – how many times does the red line have to move?
“It started in Greenacre, it went to the Opera House, it consumed our city, then it took the Harbour Bridge.
“And now we are made to be intimidated where we live, where my kids have group up – it’s appalling.”
In his speech, Rabbi Yosef Eichenblatt said, “We are not going anywhere”.
“Yes, Bondi Beach belongs to everyone, but when the antisemites come here – to the [local government] area that has the largest Jewish population in NSW – with the intent of intimidating our people, we have the right to have our voices heard, to stand up, and to speak our truth.
“We stand here as proud Australians, and as proud Jews . . . We will not stoop to the level of those who spread hate.
“Each of us has a role – when they try to dim our lives, we need to shine brighter.”
Echoing that call, singer and proud Zionist Hylton Chilchik told the gathering, “They prey on fear, and we cannot show fear – we need to show what we’re showing today: unity and strength”.
“Let’s make ourselves seen and heard.”
Many gathering attendees told The AJN they gained a strong sense of empowerment, and much-needed pride and courage, from taking part.
One of the grassroots organisers, Marc Rosenthal, said the Jewish community has endured two years of anti-Israel protests, and enough is enough.
“This beach [Bondi] should be for swimming and surfing, not demonstrations supporting Islamic terrorists,” he said.
“If the government and police won’t stand up to these people, the Jewish community will.”
Other comments of direct feedback included, “What we proved today is that unity breeds courage, which breeds pride, and back to more unity . . . the ball is rolling now, and it’s in our court”.
Another attendee at the counter-gathering remarked, “What an incredible event it turned out to be”, and a third said, “It was absolutely amazing . . . I felt very safe with my family, and extended family. We should gather every Shabbat afternoon like they do in Israel and sing and dance. Kol Hakavod!”.
In a statement released the next day, SWUA said about 3,000 people attended the counter-gathering at Bondi Beach, which “showed that our community has reached a turning point – we will not accept more empty promises – we demand action”.
“Some in the media and the community chose to focus narrowly on a fleeting moment of tension, [but] that was not the story – the real story was thousands standing calmly, proudly, and peacefully . . . of neighbours looking out for one another, parents bringing their children to show them courage, and a community affirming its place in the heart of Sydney.
“It was a true reflection of the feeling and spirit of our community today – people came because they have had enough of intimidation, harassment, and deliberate provocation.”
Teal Independent Wentworth MP Allegra Spender told ABC Radio National on September 8 that while everyone has a right to protest, she wished the pro-Palestine protesters “had chosen a different location” than Bondi Beach.
“Not because they don’t have a right to do this at Bondi, but just really because it makes it harder and provokes reactions, which I just don’t think really helps anyone.”
But Spender added that, in her opinion, the counter-gathering “was counter-productive”.
“I think that some of the things that were shouted at each other undermines our social cohesion, [and] brings conflict to the beach, which we really don’t need,” Spender said.