A month after laying to rest many members of his congregation, a rabbi who has the ear of the prime minister hopes the country can begin to heal.
Rabbi Yehoram Ulman of Chabad Bondi, who lost his son-in-law Rabbi Eli Schlanger and many members of his community in the Bondi mass shooting, described the multiple losses as heart-breaking.
“For me personally, it was the most difficult time in my life that I’ve had,” he told reporters.
“I’ve lost friends. I’ve lost a dear son-in-law. I’ve seen members of my community losing parents, spouses. I’ve seen parents losing a child and it is devastating.”
Thursday marked a national day of mourning for those killed in the attack on December 14 when two gunmen shot 15 people, including 10-year-old Matilda, celebrating Hanukkah at Australia’s most famous beach.
At the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House, Rabbi Ulman delivered a rousing message of defiance amid a heavy police presence with helicopter patrolling the harbour and a sniper planted on the roof.
“We are reclaiming this Australian icon, which became a venue for darkness, a venue for hate, a venue for promoting violence,” he said.
The rabbi also referred to protesters who lit flares, burned Israeli flags and shouted anti-Semitic remarks on the Opera House steps after the attack by Hamas on Israel in 2023.
“Today we’re coming with the opposite message and that’s what really should be because Australian people deserve better,” Rabbi Ulman said.
At the memorial service, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivered a heartfelt apology which was acknowledged with a massive round of applause as he hugged the rabbi.
NSW Premier Chris Minns also drew huge cheers as he warned “Australia is not the country for you” for detractors of its freedoms.
He also paid tribute to Syrian-Australian Ahmed al-Ahmed who confronted one of the shooters and stripped him of his rifle, as thousands gave the tobacconist a standing ovation for his valiant efforts.
In an impromptu moment on stage, 14-year-old survivor Chaya Dadon who saved several children from the bullets said “the nation has stood up” by embracing Jewish-Australians in the weeks since the attack.
Rabbi Ulman also touched upon Judaic teachings to emphasise the community would refuse to mute their cultural and religious identities amid lingering pain.
“I hope that Australia is moving in the right direction but we can’t live in fear.”
The day of mourning marked the first such occasion in Australia since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.