In a powerful display of unity and resilience, nearly 200 residents of Wollongong gathered in a public park to stand in solidarity with the local Jewish community, just one week after a devastating terror attack in Sydney.
A Service of Light Amidst Darkness
The gathering took place on Sunday, December 21, which marked the final day of Hanukkah and a designated Day of Reflection following the tragedy at Bondi Beach. The event, held at Stuart Park in North Wollongong, was organised by the Wollongong Jewish Community.
Dr Yoke Berry, the community's facilitator, admitted to significant anxiety in the lead-up. "I was so nervous. It's a big responsibility to ask people to come, it's a big unknown," she said. Her fears were understandable; the Bondi attack, which occurred just seven days prior, had resulted in 15 fatalities and 40 injuries.
Despite the threatening weather and palpable tension, a diverse crowd of about 200 people assembled. They were not only from the Jewish faith but represented a broad cross-section of Illawarra society.
A Community United in Grief and Resolve
The service was led by Rabbi Menachem Aron, a close friend of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was among those killed in Bondi. Rabbi Aron spoke of love, light, and the critical need for kindness in the face of hatred.
"This year there's no question that our celebration, our joy, our happiness is not the same," he told the sombre gathering. "I've lost close friends, I have family in the hospital that were injured in the attack... we've got a long road ahead of us." He urged everyone to focus on spreading light and healing one day at a time.
The attendance list was a testament to the region's multicultural fabric. Buddhist monks, members of the Nepalese, Indian, and Vietnamese communities, representatives from the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra, local politicians, and a strong contingent from the Wollongong Police District, led by Superintendent Karen Cook, all came together.
Narayan Prasad Chapagain, president of the Wollongong Illawarra Nepali Community (WINC), expressed his shock. "When the incident happened I was about to cry... we were not thinking about a thing like that in Australia. It was a big tragedy," he said, emphasising the importance of standing together in solidarity.
Political Response and a Collective Reckoning
The terror attack has prompted swift legislative action. On the Monday following the Wollongong service, NSW Parliament was urgently recalled to pass new laws, including measures to cap gun ownership and limit magazine capacity.
Local federal MPs were present at the service, reflecting on its significance. Cunningham MP Alison Byrnes noted, "It was really nice to see so many put their arms around the community." Whitlam MP Carol Berry described the mood as sombre but the messages as fundamentally about spreading goodness.
Dr Berry captured the national sentiment of disbelief, stating, "I'm horrified that this happened in Australia." She stressed that the attack was an affront to all Australians, regardless of background. Mr Chapagain echoed this, affirming, "This is our land, this is our nation... we're supposed to protect our community. Violence in any form has no place in society."
The ceremony concluded with the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah, a symbolic act of adding light during the darkest time. For the people of Wollongong, it was a poignant step on the long road to healing, proving that community solidarity can be a formidable answer to fear and division.
