Australia, explained.
The Hanukkah menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight day Jewish holiday is projected onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House on 15 December 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Getty/ James D Morgan)
Finding meaning for Australia in a despicable act of terrorism.
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Hope and redemption at Bondi BeachHope and redemption at Bondi Beach
Everyone at the Lowy Institute is heartsick over Sunday's despicable act of terror at Bondi Beach. We send our love and solidarity to Australia’s Jewish community.
Yesterday, The Atlantic asked me to contribute a brief essay on what this attack means for me and for other Australians. I did not find it an easy assignment. My article was published in The Atlantic today; below is a short extract.
I wish you and your families a safe and happy holiday season.
Hanukkah is the festival of light, celebrated with the lighting of candles. Darkness nearly extinguished the light on Sunday, but there were also small flares of hope and redemption. There were the surf lifesavers who ran from their nearby clubhouse, even as the shooting continued, to provide CPR and pull the wounded to shelter.
And there were the heroics of Ahmed al-Ahmed, a 44-year-old father of two, an immigrant from Syria, and a Muslim, who owns a tobacco store in an outer suburb of Sydney. Ahmed abandoned his cover behind a parked car to tackle and disarm one of the terrorists. He is recovering in the hospital from his bullet wounds.
Ahmed joins a righteous list of heroes — at the Bataclan, at Manchester Arena, and on board United Airlines Flight 93 — who ran toward the danger instead of away from it.
The Talmud teaches that whoever saves one life saves the world entire. Ahmed al-Ahmed saved scores of lives on Sunday.
Now the rest of us — led by the Australian government — must keep our Jewish community safe and help it heal.
We will swim again at Bondi. We will not give up ownership of its sands.
About the author
Michael Fullilove
Dr Michael Fullilove AM is the Executive Director of the Lowy Institute.
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