Toorak Shule Chanukah event attracts solidarity

More than 200 people gathered at the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation on Tuesday night for a Chanukah celebration that became an outpouring of solidarity following Sunday’s terrorist attack at Bondi Beach.

The Toorak Shule had fewer than 60 bookings before the attack, but attendance more than tripled in the days afterwards, with politicians and members of the broader community seeking to show their support.

Sharon Abramov, administration manager at the shule, said Jewish community members were determined not to let fear dictate their response.

“They are looking for connection. They want to be together. They want to celebrate Chanukah,” she told the AJN.

“They don’t want to be scared, that’s one of the main messages. They want to keep going.”

Around 50 members of St John’s Anglican Church in Toorak joined the celebration after their vicar, Dr Peter French, encouraged parishioners to attend.

“We are neighbours, we are brothers and sisters, we are good and faithful people, and we need to look after each other,” Dr French told the AJN.

“In the wake of Sunday, it is so important that we are here, joining with the community, showing our love and our care for them at a difficult time.”

Dr French said his parishioners were deeply shocked and saddened by the attack, with many having Jewish friends and neighbours.

“I had a funeral service this afternoon for a member of my church, and I changed the prayers to pray for the Jewish community, for the members of the community who are mourning and for peace and tolerance and understanding in Australia.”

He said his church would continue to pray for the Jewish community in the lead-up to Christmas, remembering particularly the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation.

Melbourne Hebrew Congregation’s Rabbi Shlomo Nathanson said there had been internal discussions about whether the event should proceed, with safety being the primary concern.

“Once we got that green light, it was incredible to see how many people got in touch with us afterwards to say, ‘I just need to connect. I just need somewhere to come,'” Rabbi Nathanson said.

“People were saying, ‘I’m sorry the bookings are closed. Can I just come? I just need to be somewhere to be associated.'”

Abramov described the event as “a normal Chanukah party, maybe a bit more sombre.”

“We’re not going crazy with the music, but just some background music to bring everyone together.”

She said the outpouring of support from the wider community had been deeply moving, with flowers left on the shule’s steps and messages flooding in from across the country.

“It filled my spirit to see all the flowers that were left on the steps of the shule today,” she said.

“People from the countryside, interstate have called me and asked what they can do to help and that they stand with the Jews, and they are all non-Jewish.”

Offers of practical assistance ranged from mowing lawns to driving community members to synagogue.

Rabbi Nathanson said the shule had been overwhelmed by messages from non-Jewish community members, with wreaths and notes left on its steps on successive mornings.

“It’s painful and it’s raw, and I think the effects have yet to settle in,” he said.

Asked whether it was difficult to be a Rabbi at such times, Rabbi Nathanson said this was precisely when leadership mattered most.

“It’s not for the easy times. It’s not for the times where things are relatively smooth sailing,” he said.

“I think it’s here where leadership pulls on ideas and inspirations that we as the Jewish people have and know, to be a light unto the nations and to be Am Hasefer, a nation of books, that we’ve been guided to be able to navigate through these times.”

He said the tragedy had given the festival of lights renewed meaning.

“I think you’ll find that never has there been a Chanukah that has resonated so deeply with Jewish people around the world.”

Dr French said the message of light and hope emerging from the Jewish community was a sign of strength.

“This is a very dark hour, and coming together and being strong and being the light that has been communicated to the broader community in just the last 48 hours is such a sign of strength and hope.

“I hope that message of light and hope and love and care for each other extends to all Australians, and all Australians understand the need for us to be together and to love each other.”