Terror at Bondi: Antisemitic Attack Shatters Hanukkah Celebrations in Sydney

Chabad rabbi Eli Schlanger, killed in the Bondi Beach shooting, urged Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to stand with Israel in a September open letter.

Today marks the first day of Hanukkah—the Jewish Festival of Lights. This eight-day holiday commemorates the ancient Maccabean revolt against oppression, the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, and the miracle of a single day’s oil lasting eight days in the menorah. It is a time of joy, family gatherings, lighting candles, sharing traditional foods like latkes and sufganiyot, and reflecting on themes of resilience, faith, and the triumph of light over darkness.

Tragically, the annual “Chanukah by the Sea” celebration organized by Chabad of Bondi at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach—drawing over 1,000 attendees—descended into horror when two gunmen opened fire in a targeted terrorist attack just before 7pm on this sacred evening.

Domestic Developments

• Political Turmoil and Declining Support: President Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 36–41%, driven by economic concerns, immigration backlash, and governance challenges. The RNC chair has publicly warned of a “looming disaster” for the 2026 midterms, while a major rebuke came in deeply Republican Indiana, where state senators—with a majority of Republicans joining Democrats—rejected Trump’s gerrymandering push despite intense pressure, including threats of primaries and withheld funds.

• Immigration Policy Under Strain: Aggressive ICE and Border Patrol operations have triggered widespread backlash, mobilizing communities and inspiring ordinary citizens to run for office in opposition. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem faces mounting criticism and reports of being “on thin ice,” with potential replacements discussed amid internal dysfunction.

• Public Health Concerns: As HHS Secretary RFK Jr. overhauls vaccine protocols, measles outbreaks are surging, with hundreds quarantined in South Carolina. Critics warn of risks to long-standing immunization progress.

• Legislative Gridlock Hurts Families: The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act, vital for pediatric cancer therapies, passed the House unanimously but remains stalled in the Senate—one vote short of unanimous consent—exemplifying broader dysfunction delaying critical reforms.

• Epstein Files Stir Controversy: House Democrats continue pushing for full release of over 95,000 photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, revealing disturbing images and prompting renewed calls for accountability across party lines.

• Separate Campus Shooting: On December 13, a masked gunman killed 2 students and injured 9 during an economics review session at Brown University in Rhode Island—a domestic mass shooting with no foreign links, contrasting sharply with the targeted terrorism in Sydney the next day.

International Dimensions

• Ongoing Probe into Foreign Ties: Israeli and Australian authorities are investigating possible Iranian involvement in the Bondi attack, citing prior Tehran-linked threats to Jewish communities abroad.

• Broader Global Concerns: The incident underscores rising state-sponsored antisemitism, with scrutiny on groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. Separately, the U.S. drew criticism for opposing (in a 153-3 vote) a longstanding UN resolution condemning torture—breaking decades of consensus and omitting key human rights mandates in its explanation.

• Ukraine Update: President Zelenskyy visited troops in the Kupyansk sector, praising their resilience on Land Forces Day and highlighting the gap between Russian claims of conquest and battlefield reality.

The Bondi Beach Terror Attack

• From Celebration to Chaos: The family-friendly event began around 5pm in Archer Park near Bondi Pavilion. At approximately 6:47pm, two gunmen (though some early eyewitness reports mentioned a possible third) positioned on a pedestrian bridge opened fire with rifles on the crowd below in a brazen daylight assault.

• Heroism Amid Terror: A courageous bystander risked his life to tackle and disarm one gunman from behind, wresting away the weapon and saving countless lives—an act praised by Prime Minister Albanese. Police neutralized the threat, discovering IEDs in a linked vehicle.

• Devastating Human Cost: At least 11 were murdered, including Rabbi Eli Schlanger—who weeks earlier penned an open letter to Albanese defending Jewish ties to Israel—along with other Chabad representatives wounded. 29 others were hospitalized (including two police officers), with authorities declaring it a terrorist attack targeting Jews on Hanukkah amid Australia’s rising antisemitism.

In the face of this unimaginable evil on a day meant to celebrate light overcoming darkness, stories of heroism emerge—like the civilian who risked everything to disarm a shooter. Yet, this tragedy is utterly terrible, a heartbreaking blow to families shattered in an instant. My deepest condolences go out to the victims, their loved ones, the wounded, and the entire Jewish community during what should have been a time of peace and joy. The world feels increasingly unmoored, and we must stand united against such hatred.

Questions continue to surround Jeffrey Epstein’s extensive connections to powerful figures, including numerous photos of Donald Trump found in his properties—what exactly was the nature of their relationship, and how deep did it go?