"Like all Australians, Bondi isn't just a place to me, it lives in my heart as a symbol of who we are. As a child I spent many Sundays on the beach at North Bondi life-savers as a nipper, and as a former mayor of Waverley council and a local councillor for more than a decade, I have walked its concrete ramparts thousands of times, in all its seasons."
"For locals, it is a place of peace and play. For the small Jewish community, it is also a place where festivals are marked openly and proudly. Sunday night was the first night we celebrated Hanukah (think of it as Jewish Christmas). Over the years, in my official role, I attended many Hanukah ceremonies. They were always occasions of light, joy and belonging."
"My heart breaks for the victims, their loved ones, and for all those who experienced the trauma of this act of terrorism. At the same time, I am in awe of the extraordinary heroism of those who stepped forward, at great personal risk, to defend innocent congregants and bystanders. What compounds the grief is fear. In recent years, Jewish people in Australia have felt threatened, dismissed, alienated and, at times, openly vilified."
Bondi holds deep significance as a national symbol, a site of childhood Sundays on North Bondi beach and long civic engagement walking its concrete ramparts. Visitors will soon gather there for Christmas. The local small Jewish community marks festivals openly and proudly, including Hanukah ceremonies that are occasions of light, joy and belonging. Recent murders at Bondi inflicted profound, personal loss on the community and shocked peaceful residents. Extraordinary civilians displayed heroism defending congregants and bystanders. Growing fear stems from Jewish people feeling threatened, dismissed, alienated, and at times openly vilified, a condition not excused by political debate.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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