What was meant to be a time of light, reflection, and celebration for the Jewish community instead became a moment of collective grief and anguish following a deadly shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. The attack, which occurred on the first night of Hanukkah, has sent shockwaves far beyond Australia, resonating deeply with Jewish communities around the world—including here in Waterloo Region and Guelph.
Local Jewish leaders say the timing of the violence has made the tragedy even more painful, turning a sacred holiday into a period of mourning, fear, and difficult reflection on the rising tide of antisemitism globally.
A Holiday Marked by Grief Instead of Celebration
Hanukkah, often referred to as the Festival of Lights, commemorates resilience, faith, and survival in the face of persecution. This year, however, those themes took on a darker and more immediate meaning.
For Rabbi Moshe Goldman, Director of the Rohr Chabad Centre for Jewish Life in Waterloo, news of the shooting struck at the heart of a community already carrying deep emotional weight.
“We’re obviously devastated. We’re obviously broken, shattered and gutted,” Rabbi Goldman said in an interview. “I don’t think anybody in the Jewish community is shocked or surprised.”
A Familiar and Painful Pattern
Rabbi Goldman framed the tragedy within a long and painful historical context, noting that violence against Jews is not a new phenomenon.
“This is what happens at the end of a long line of tolerance for an ideology and hate movement that breeds these results,” he said. “We’ve seen it before. We’ve warned about it. We’ve talked about it until blue in the face.”
His words reflect a sense of exhaustion shared by many in the Jewish community—an exhaustion that comes from repeatedly sounding alarms about antisemitism, only to feel unheard or dismissed.
“We’ve been accused of overreacting,” he added. “Maybe this time, people will wake up a little bit more. I don’t know. I’m kind of skeptical.”
Fear Ripples Through Local Jewish Communities
The emotional impact of the Bondi Beach shooting has not remained abstract. In Waterloo Region and Guelph, Jewish leaders report that fear is shaping real decisions about how—and whether—people gather during Hanukkah.
Rabbi Raphi Steiner, Director of Chabad of Guelph, told 570 NewsRadio that some community members are reconsidering public celebrations altogether.
Cancelling Gatherings Out of Safety Concerns
“I’ve heard from people who are considering cancelling Hanukkah gatherings and other celebrations,” Rabbi Steiner said, explaining that families worry about becoming visible targets simply by expressing their faith.
The hesitation underscores how acts of violence thousands of kilometres away can have immediate psychological and social consequences locally. For many Jewish families, the question is no longer just how to celebrate, but how to stay safe while doing so.
A Call for Unity, Not Retreat
Despite the fear, Rabbi Steiner emphasized that retreating into isolation is not the answer. Instead, he urged the Jewish community to respond with unity, visibility, and strength.
“We can either go into hiding, hunker down and allow the wave to wash over us and maybe erode us and make us disappear in its wake,” he said. “Or, we can stand shoulder to shoulder, more boldly and broadly. More confidently, prouder than we were before.”
Choosing Resilience Over Fear
Rabbi Steiner described resilience as an active choice—one that requires courage in moments when fear feels overwhelming.
“So that we can repel that wave and change the tide of history forever,” he said, framing the response as not only defensive, but transformative.
His words echo a broader message shared by Jewish leaders worldwide: that hate must not be allowed to dictate how a community lives, worships, or expresses its identity.
The Emotional Toll of Rising Antisemitism
Both rabbis spoke candidly about the cumulative impact of repeated acts of antisemitism and violence. Beyond physical safety concerns, there is a growing emotional and psychological strain on Jewish leaders tasked with supporting their communities.
“I feel sometimes like I’m holding the very foundation of the Jewish community together with Scotch tape and masking tape,” Rabbi Steiner said.
Shaken Foundations
He explained that each new act of violence reverberates deeply, reopening wounds and reinforcing fears.
“Whenever these types of acts happen, it shakes that very foundation,” he said. “But my message is to stand with resilience and confidence so that it’s the terrorists that retreat into the darkness, into the corners—versus us.”
The statement reflects both the fragility and strength of a community determined not to be defined by fear.
How Non-Jewish Neighbours Can Show Support
Local Jewish leaders stressed that support from the broader community is more important than ever. While statements of sympathy are appreciated, they say meaningful action and connection matter most.
Reaching Out Matters
Both Rabbi Goldman and Rabbi Steiner encouraged non-Jewish residents to reach out directly to their Jewish friends, neighbours, and colleagues.
A simple message of solidarity, they said, can make a powerful difference at a time when many feel isolated or targeted.
Supporters are also invited to attend public Hanukkah events, such as menorah lighting ceremonies, as a visible show of unity and shared humanity.
Increased Police Presence at Hanukkah Events
In response to heightened concerns, Waterloo regional police have confirmed there will be an increased police presence at Hanukkah celebrations across the region.
Balancing Safety and Celebration
Authorities say the goal is to ensure community members can gather safely while maintaining the spirit of the holiday. Jewish leaders welcomed the added security, though they noted that the need for it is itself a sobering reminder of the times.
The presence of law enforcement is intended to provide reassurance, not fear, as families and communities come together during Hanukkah.
Building Identity Through Community Projects
Amid the grief and uncertainty, Rabbi Steiner also highlighted a local initiative that has taken on renewed significance: the Mezuzahs for Guelph campaign.
Strengthening Jewish Identity at Home
The project aims to place a mezuzah on the doorframe of every Jewish household in Guelph and surrounding areas. A mezuzah is a small scroll containing verses from the Torah, placed in a protective case and affixed to a doorway.
It serves as a signifier of a Jewish home and a reminder of faith, identity, and divine presence.
“In moments like this, strengthening our connection to who we are becomes even more important,” Rabbi Steiner said.
A Global Tragedy With Local Resonance
The Bondi Beach shooting has once again illustrated how acts of violence rooted in hate reverberate far beyond their immediate location. For Jewish communities in Waterloo Region, the tragedy is not distant—it is personal, emotional, and deeply felt.
Rabbi Goldman expressed doubt that sympathy alone would be enough to address the broader problem.
“It’s going to take a lot more than sympathy to fix what’s wrong around the world and in Canada,” he said.
Light in a Time of Darkness
As Hanukkah continues, local Jewish leaders say the symbolism of the holiday feels especially poignant. Hanukkah commemorates the triumph of light over darkness, faith over fear, and resilience over oppression.
This year, those themes are not just symbolic—they are lived realities.
Despite heartbreak, fear, and anger, the message from local leaders is clear: the Jewish community will not disappear, retreat, or surrender its identity.
Instead, they say, the response to hate must be unity, visibility, and unwavering resolve—lighting candles not in defiance alone, but in hope that darkness, no matter how powerful it seems, will not have the final word.
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