Thousands of Australians are expected to perform acts of kindness on Thursday to remember the victims of last month’s Bondi terrorist attack, as the Jewish mitzvah tradition stretches across faiths and backgrounds.
a MitsubaIt has come to mean that it is a core value of Judaism. any act of charity And Australians are being asked to establish a national day of remembrance.
Carol Schlessinger, CEO and co-founder of the charity organization Kids Giving Back, is one of them. She has been running the “One Mitzvah for Bondi” program every week since the terrorist attack, opening the doors of the charity to hundreds of families who prepare meals for vulnerable communities, and plans to run two events on Thursday.
“We truly believe that enabling children and families to perform mitzvahs and acts of kindness is deeply empowering and gives young people a sense of agency, purpose and hope, especially at a time like this,” she said.
Australian Jewish Executive Council president Daniel Aghion said he planned to spend the day at the synagogue, practicing a mitzvah which he described as a “beautiful Jewish tradition”.
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Aghion said: overwhelming support That’s because after the Bondi attack, Mitsva became “proud of my Jewish faith and proud of being Australian”.
“The antidote to exclusion is inclusion,” he says. “One of the great things to come out of such a terrible event is the way it brings Australians together.
“As a nation, we want Australia to be a better place. With very simple steps and acts of kindness, we can make Australia a better place.”
Mourners will also gather inside the Sydney Opera House on Thursday night for an official national memorial service hosted by Chabad of Bondi with support from the federal government, community partners and faith leaders, with the theme ‘Light Will Triumph, A Gathering of Unity and Remembrance.’
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Susan Ley and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns are scheduled to speak at the invitation-only event.
The guest list will also include survivors of terrorist attacks, their families, first responders, community leaders and other government representatives.
The Opera House will be illuminated alongside other important national buildings in line with the day’s theme. Guests will arrive from 5:30pm and formal formalities will take place from 7pm AEDT until approximately 9pm.
Those who wish to watch from home can live stream the proceedings on Chabad of Bondi’s YouTube channel.
The event begins with a national moment of silence, followed by a prayer by Rabbi Pinchas Feldman.
The national anthem will be sung by the Great Synagogue’s choir, and 15 candles will be lit by family members and representatives of the deceased.
Along with official speeches and memorial readings, there will be musical performances and a number of memorial videos will be shown.
Rabbi Yossi Friedman of Bondi Chabad said that due to the sold-out memorial event, a short name reading and candle lighting service would also be held in the Bondi Pavilion from 5:30pm to 6pm.
Michelle Goldman, CEO of the Jewish Parliamentary Council of New South Wales, welcomed the Day of Remembrance as a “moment for Australians to pause and reflect on the 15 lives lost in the terrorist attacks on the first night of Hanukkah”.
“We encourage all Australians to perform mitzvahs, such as checking on neighbors, volunteering and supporting local businesses, as a way to honor the victims through acts of kindness,” they said.
In Victoria state, multifaith leaders will gather at St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in Melbourne for a wake at 11:15am on Thursday to mark the day. It will be open to the public and live-streamed online.
Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan said the vigil was “a moment to stand with the Jewish community and reaffirm who we are”.
It will be the first time Australia has observed a national day of mourning since Queen Elizabeth II’s death in 2022.