Ossip has called for a royal commission into the Bondi attack
After two years of escalating antisemitism and warnings from the Jewish community and Asio that lives were going to be lost, the terrorist attack still took place.
Whilst we are all in shock, and deeply sad, we are not surprised. We feared and suspected that this moment was coming. And whilst a catastrophe such as that which we experienced last week would be a tragedy if it was unexpected, how much more tragic is it that the loss of life occurred despite all the warning signs being there?
And on that note – it cannot be disputed that we need a royal commission.
Updated at 03.26 EST
Key events
Show key events only
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
We are going to put the blog to bed now. Before we go, let’s recap the big headlines from the day:
Thirteen people injured during the Bondi attacks remain in hospital, where they are undergoing treatment.
A royal commission into the events surrounding the Bondi attacks will complete the “jigsaw” and give Australians the answers they are looking for in the wake of the attacks, the New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, said.
Barnaby Joyce addressed a small anti-immigration rally in Sydney despite pleas from the premier for it not to go ahead.
A floral memorial left by community members to honour the memory of those killed during the Bondi attacks will be removed on Monday for historical preservation.
Crowds in white gathered despite the heat at an afternoon Bondi beachside vigil. The governor general, Sam Mostyn, said she will make it her “national project” to promote care, kindness and respect for the Jewish community and all Australians following the wake of the Bondi terror attack.
Anthony Albanese asked former Asio boss Dennis Richardson and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to lead a review into Australia’s federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies. He announced the move amid growing calls for a royal commission into last week’s Bondi shootings.
Albanese was booed by some people in the crowd as he arrived for the evening vigil to mark a week since the Bondi attack, and again during official welcomes.
In his speech the president of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, David Ossip, called for a royal commission into the attack.
Here’s our full report on the speeches at this evening’s commemoration.
Thank you for spending part of your day with us. We will be back tomorrow morning.
Updated at 05.24 EST
And with that, the Day of Reflection service comes to an end.
Musical tribute
Menachem Feldman and Ben Goldstein are now leading the crowd in a rendition of I Am You Are We Are Australian, by The Seekers.
Everyone is up on their feet, singing and clapping along.
As they finish up, people in the crowd can be heard chanting, Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi.
Updated at 05.07 EST
Jordyn Beazley
A light has been beamed into the night sky from behind the Bondi Pavilion
The attack occurred on the first night of Hanukah, and tonight’s vigil falls on the final night.
Hanukah symbolises light and hope in the face of darkness.
Updated at 05.04 EST
The candles are being lit by several people
These include: Rabbi Mendy Litzman, who rushed in his ambulance to help, police commissioner Mal Lanyon, SES volunteer Vladimir Kotlyar, Surf Life Saving CEO – Steven Pearce, Michael, father of Matilda, and chief executive of New South Wales ambulance, Dr Dominic Morgan.
The father of 10-year-old Matilda lights a candle on a menorah. Photograph: Mark Baker/APShare
Updated at 05.23 EST
Lighting of the menorah begins
Rabbi Mendy Ulman from Bondi is now going to lead the lighting of the menorah, along with Bondi surf life-saving club, Anthony ‘Harries’ Carol, and Australian Olympian Jessica Fox who are introducing the candle lighters.
Updated at 04.52 EST
Ulman calls to respond to the pain with goodness. He says:
As we respond to this pain with more goodness and more light, we bring close a world without hatred, without violence, without fear, a world filled with dignity, with peace, with hope, a world of redemption.
We can’t wait any longer. May the memories of those we lost be a blessing. May be injured to be healed. May our sorrow be comforted. May all those heroes are shielded.
May God give us the strength to make goodness prevail. Light will win.
Updated at 04.46 EST
‘Sydney can and must become a beacon of goodness’
Ulman continues:
But only if we take the feelings we have right now and turn them into action, into continuous action. What does it mean? For all humanity, that begins with the most basic foundations of civilisation.
The seven biblical laws, which mean to respect the sanctity of life, to reject violence and cruelty to all living beings, to value family, to act honestly, to protect justice, to recognise that there is one God who calls us to live with decency and responsibility and to honour him.
Updated at 04.43 EST
Ulman:
Tonight, I ask every person here and everyone watching to take personal responsibility to continue the light of those souls brought into the world.
Let us not wait for tomorrow. Let us start today, tonight.
Darkness is not defeated by anger or force. Darkness is transformed by light, and that light begins with what each of us chooses to do next, and returning to normal is not enough.
Updated at 04.43 EST
Ulman has named all 15 victims
With each name, he has shared a lesson that can be emulated from them.
For Matilda, he says:
Matilda. A beautiful, spirited … 10-year-old child, who brought light where she went. Let us bring a smile, a sense of pure goodness into the lives of those around us.
Updated at 04.43 EST
Ulman says last week the community was prevented from lighting a candle
Tonight they will light all eight.
He says 20,000 people turned out for the vigil.
Bondi is with us, Sydney is with us, Australia is reverse, and the world is with us. Australia is with us.
As the previous speaker said, we are not retreating, we are not hiding, and we are not shrinking.
We are responding with more light, more love and more unity. We owe this to the 15 precious souls we lost.
He says the Torah teaches that the greatest way to honour those who are lost is to live a life inspired by the memory.
Each one of the 15 precious souls has left us with lessons we can emulate.
Updated at 04.37 EST
Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, from Bondi, is speaking now
He says that for almost 40 years, he has led the Bondi community.
I have shared weddings and births, tears and laughter. I have watched children grow up, parents grow older. In strangers become family and the community Ferarri. Year after year, we have gathered here, to lights candles.
Last week, was meant to be a festival for Joy. A celebration of family unity, hope, instead, the darkest form of evil, violated the sacred space, but we are back. I stand here tonight, to say loud and clear – that darkness does not get the final word.
Light will win.
Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, father-in-law of massacre victim Rabbi Eli Schlanger, speaks at Schlanger’s funeral. Photograph: Mark Baker/ReutersShare
Updated at 04.37 EST
Dadon was asked what her message was for Australians:
Be the light in the field of darkness. You know what? They will make us stronger. I am sure a lot of you heard this. I said this so many times, they think by doing that obviously, we are mourning, but we are getting stronger as a nation.
We are growing. Sometimes rowing hurts. We are growing. Life is going to move on and why not make a list of.
Members of the audience react to Dadon’s speech. Photograph: Andrew Quilty/The GuardianShare
Updated at 04.50 EST
Survivor Chaya Dadon is being interviewed now
She is alongside her parents Rabbi Menachem Dadon and Sterny Dadon
Dadon left her shelter to help save some children.
That is the thing about the Jewish people. I saw those children and they were mine. They were my kids, and I knew whatever I was going to do I was going to do it for them!
She said she did not feel scared, but just ran in help.
A lot of you guys now, a big concept of Judaism is having a purpose in having a meaning to be in this world.
And in that moment, I felt so direct, directed in the right direction. I was like, there is no going back I’m doing it and nothing was going to get in my way!
Chaya Dadon a 14-year-old Bondi shooting survivor, on 19 December. Photograph: Cordelia Hsu/ReutersShare
Updated at 04.27 EST
Musical tribute to young victim
David Campbell is now going to sing Waltzing Matilda to pay tribute to Matilda, the youngest victim of the attack.
Matilda, was the youngest victim of the Bondi beach shooting. Photograph: Supplied by familyShare
Updated at 04.24 EST
Aghion has also called for a royal commission into the attack
Last Sunday, Jews were the target, but they were not the only victims. As we saw last Sunday, antisemitism makes us all unsafe. I find hope, and we have to find hope.
I find hope in the flowers placed outside synagogues across this country. The outpouring of messages of support, the person who simply said, “You deserve better.” We all deserve better. We deserve an Australia where we are all safe, safe to practise our faith and culture openly, safe to live.
Updated at 04.18 EST
Aghion:
We have endured 11 firebombing attacks upon our synagogues and facilities, homes, businesses and a childcare centre within the last 18 months. And now, just a week ago, the cold-blooded murder of innocents.
Our people at Bondi were cut down for who they were, not for anything they did. We warned the government of the risk again and again, but our many warnings were not listened.
Our answer to the terrorists, to their knowing or unwitting accomplices and sympathisers, is this. We will not be silenced. We will not hide. We will not live in fear.
Updated at 04.18 EST
The president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Daniel Aghion, is speaking now:
The Australian Jewish community has experienced two years of unrelenting vitriol and hate. Protests calling for the eradication of our right to speak in support of our freedoms and Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself from butchery.
They try and begrudge us even the right to define who we are. Proud Zionists.
Updated at 04.18 EST