Standing in solidarity with the jewish community

The horrific terror attack at Bondi on 14 December has left us heartbroken. 

To our Jewish comrades, peers, and friends – we extend our deepest condolences to you, and hold you in our hearts. We stand alongside those mourning the lives senselessly taken; and we send strength, courage and love to your families, neighbours and community in this moment of grief, during what should be the joyful celebration of the festival of lights, Hanukkah. We hope for the swift and full recovery of all who were injured.

To our broader community – this is our moment to join in solidarity with the Jewish community and all who have been impacted. We must stay united and support each other across our faiths and backgrounds, lived experiences and organisations. This all the more critical as the far right is already exploiting this tragedy to sow fear and foment division in order to seize power.  

One way you can express solidarity is through signing this sector statement of solidarity with the Australian Jewish community, drafted by Australian Democracy Network and Climate Action Network Australia. Complete this form to add your organisation's name by 9am Friday 19 December 2025.

For the past two weeks we’ve had US-based messaging expert Anat Shenker-Osorio touring Australia, building capacity of our movement to uplift and back in cross-movement work using messages proven to unite communities across race, class, gender and disability.

Anat, a member of the Jewish community herself who has done research on and supported efforts at both calling out antisemitism and ensuring it not be used as a cudgel to silence legitimate political dissent, has shared the following suggestions to inform our communications over the coming weeks. To be sure, communicating about this event is hard and heartbreaking – but silence would allow the far right to set and control a narrative designed to weaponise the grief and fear of one community in order to shame and blame another. 

Guiding messaging principles

• Name that this was a horrific act that targeted the Jewish community and unequivocally condemn antisemitism and all forms of prejudice and violence against any group. 

• Honour the memory of lives lost, across communities. 

• Follow the lead of and amplify the voices of the most impacted. 

• Uplift the heroism of everyday community members who risked their lives to protect, care for, and save others.

• Say what we’re for, not merely what we’re against. The far right are already seeking to define this moment with a narrative of division and hate: we must not live in their story, and instead communicate our own values, including solidarity across faith and racial backgrounds, safety, freedom from gun violence, courage, and community. 

• Structure your messages:

  • Ground messages in shared values that name these regardless of who we are and what we believe. Shared values include safety, respect, freedom, love, care, compassion, faith, family, and justice. 

  • Clearly name people who seek to exploit this moment to create division across race and religion.

  • Emphasise unity and collective action to achieve our vision of a better world. 

Example messages

• Overarching message, using a common expression of Jewish mourning (“may their memory be a blessing”):

  • All of us, no matter our background, faith or post code want to be safe when we gather to celebrate our traditions, be with our friends and family, and mark our holidays. On Sunday, the first night of Hanukkah, we witnessed the absolute horrors and terror that hatred begets. And in the midst of that tragedy, we saw acts of community care and heroism: Bondi residents welcoming strangers to hide in their homes, first responders rushing in to treat the wounded, and people putting their lives on the line to save others. 

  • We mourn with the Jewish community and all who have been impacted by this violence, wishing a swift recovery to all who are injured. We honour the memories of those killed by refusing to fall prey to attempts to stoke fear and foment hate. We have seen what happens when a community is singled out and scapegoated based on their faith and we reject efforts to divide us. 

  • May the memory of those who were taken be a blessing and a reminder that we must come together with and for each other. 

• Example shared values:

  • We all deserve to be safe and have spaces to come together, whether we’re lighting candles for Hanukkah, celebrating Iftar, or decorating a Christmas tree. 

  • Sunday afternoons can take many forms – we might share dinner with family, watch the sunset with friends, or spend quiet time at home in our neighbourhood. Regardless of how we choose to gather, we all deserve to feel safe and free in our community. 

  • We all deserve freedom to gather on our beaches, attend places of worship, and walk through our community without fear of gun violence. 

• Example of naming people who seek to divide us and sharing our vision for a better future:

  • There are a few that will use this moment to drive hate and fear for their own political gains. We have seen what the path of hate and horror looks like and we reject that path and choose the one we have also witnessed: courage, solidarity, and community care.

  • Together, we can create a better future where everyone is safe, no matter where they come from, if and how they practice their faith, or who they are.

Sending love and strength to you all at this time, and if there is further support we can provide, please reach out to us at info@australianprogress.org.au. Thank you to Anat and our Jewish friends who reviewed the joint statement and messages at this devastating time.

With deep love and solidarity,

Kirsty

CEO, Australian Progress