‘We weren’t shocked’: Adelaide Jewish leader speaks out after Bondi
At an emotional vigil last night, an Adelaide Rabbi says the Jewish community “weren’t shocked” that a tragedy like the Bondi terror attack could occur.
Rabbi Franklyn Salzman of Adelaide’s Beit Shalom Synagogue said that “while [the Bondi terror attack] was something that we as the Jewish community had been praying wouldn’t occur, the sad truth is we weren’t shocked”.
Speaking at a vigil for victims of the Bondi terror attack, Salzman said the Jewish community had been concerned about rising antisemitism for some time.
“It’s something that we’ve been fearful of for the last few years here,” he said.
“We’ve been saying that there’s antisemitism, and we need help – we need all of your support to combat hate, to combat this rise in what is violence against the Jewish community, but I firmly believe it seeps into other places in society as well.
“So, the way you can help is by being our partners in this: call out misinformation when you see it, help ensure that the Jewish community continues to receive the support that it needs here in Adelaide.”
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He called on support for the Jewish community beyond this week: “Please help make sure that tonight is not just tonight, that in the days and the weeks, the months and the years ahead, that the Jewish community, that all communities in need of support are given that support”.
“Call on your representatives, call your neighbours, speak with your friends, make sure that this awful tragedy never happens again,” he said.
Last night’s vigil at Saint Francis Xavier’s Catholic Cathedral brought together faith leaders from across South Australia’s religious community, including Adelaide’s Catholic Archbishop Patrick O’Regan and Reverend Peter Morel, who is the leader of the Uniting Church in South Australia.
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Also in attendance were Federal Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, South Australian Multicultural Affairs Minister Zoe Bettison and Deputy Opposition Leader Josh Teague.
It comes after the Bondi terror attacks’ youngest victim, 10-year-old Matilda, who was remembered as “a little ray of sunshine”, was farewelled yesterday, while a funeral for Bondi’s oldest victim, 87-year-old Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman, was also held on Thursday.
Forty-one-year-old father of five, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was remembered as “a lamplighter”, was also laid to rest on Wednesday.
Fifteen victims were killed in last Sunday’s terror attack – the worst in Australia’s history – as two gunmen opened fire on members of the Jewish community celebrating Hanukkah.
Accused murderer Naveed Akram has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder, over the terror attack.
His father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was killed by police at the scene.
In the wake of the terror attack, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas and Education Minister Blair Boyer announced $500,000 in funding for the Adelaide Holocaust Museum and Andrew Steiner Education Centre on Wakefield Street.
The additional funding would be spent on education about the Holocaust and tackling antisemitism and other forms of hatred.
Premier Malinauskas also said he “stands ready” to recall State Parliament if there is a need to pass laws to strengthen gun laws in response to the tragedy.
