The community surrounding Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach has been left reeling after a terror attack targeted a Hanukkah celebration on 14 December. In the aftermath, poignant tributes have accumulated outside the Bondi Pavilion, including flowers, a hanukiah, and Jewish memorial candles for the dead.
A Plea for Compassion Over Conflict
David Heilpern, a former New South Wales magistrate and now dean of law at Southern Cross University, has issued a powerful call for unity. He stresses that the immediate aftermath is a time for supporting the victims' families, friends, and the wider Jewish community, not for assigning blame or political manoeuvring. "Jewish lives matter," he states unequivocally, emphasising that the victims, who included children and Holocaust survivors, were targeted solely for their faith.
Heilpern outlines what he believes this period is not for: it is not the time to blame Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for foreign policy, to stifle criticism of Israel under the guise of combating antisemitism, or to hastily investigate intelligence failings. He also warns against diluting democracy with overreach laws or politicising the tragedy by suggesting immigration policies based on religion.
The Danger of Opportunism in Grief
The article references the conduct of politicians Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce at the Bondi vigil, which commentator Julianne Schultz condemned as turning tragedy into opportunism. Heilpern extends this sentiment, arguing it is also not the time for conspiracy theories about 'false flags' or immediate comparisons to other global conflicts. "Before anyone starts to orate about historic morals or immediate comparisons, please take a breath and say that right now Jewish lives matter," he writes.
He acknowledges the compassionate responses from many within the Palestinian movement but urges a moment of singular focus on the loss suffered. The proximity of the attack to Christmas is noted as a bittersweet reminder to hold loved ones close and to engage in honest, heartfelt conversation.
A Path Forward Through Reflection
Heilpern shares a personal reflection, mentioning he will meditate in a garden below his law school, where 35 trees were planted in memory of the Port Arthur massacre victims. He sees a lesson in how those trees have grown to offer welcome shade, symbolising slow, steady growth from profound grief. His hope is that the nation can rise above the horror and shame to become stronger and more compassionate.
The former magistrate concludes with a direct appeal: it is time to reach out to Jewish friends, acquaintances, or even strangers to express solidarity and sorrow. The ultimate goal, he posits, is a country characterised by more conversation and less dispute, more compassion and less hatred.
