Public Statement On The Horrific Terror Attack In Bondi Australia

We are devastated by the horrific events in Bondi, Australia, where twelve innocent Jewish lives were brutally taken, including a Chabad rabbi, on the first day of Chanukah. This tragedy is deeply painful and heart wrenching for Jews and all people of conscience around the world. Such acts of deadly hatred are not only abhorrent in themselves, but threaten the very fabric that binds humanity together.

It is especially critical at times like these to resist efforts by political actors to exploit tragedy for their own agendas. Attempts by Israeli officials to position themselves as the de facto representatives of Jewish communities worldwide, including by shifting blame onto the Australian government, only deepen divisions and place Jewish communities at further risk. Such politicization casts a dangerous shadow over Jews across the globe.

Since the horrific events of October 7 and Israel’s subsequent war in Gaza, the Israeli government has aggressively sought to equate criticism of its policies with hatred of Jews. Through extensive hasbarah efforts, criticism of Israel’s actions has been labeled antisemitic, while academics, governments, and public figures who voice opposition have been attacked and delegitimized. This deliberate conflation rewrites the narrative to suggest that opposition to Israeli policy is opposition to Jews as a whole.

This false and dangerous framing exposes Jewish communities to heightened risk by implying collective responsibility for actions and wars in which they have no role. Antisemitism must never be instrumentalized or politicized. Allowing it to be used in this manner endangers Jewish lives and undermines genuine efforts to combat real hatred.

The safety and security of Jews worldwide depend on rejecting this manipulation and standing firmly for truth, justice, and moral clarity. We must unite to oppose hatred in all its forms, without allowing tragedy to be exploited for political gain.

May Hashem comfort the bereaved families, and may He soon bring the Ultimate Redemption, when peace will reign throughout the world.

With a broken heart,

Rabbi Moshe Dovid Katz

Principal Torah Jews

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