Australia will pause on Thursday in a rare national day of mourning to honour the 15 people killed in the Chanukah Massacre terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on December 14, with flags flown at half-mast and public buildings illuminated as symbols of remembrance and unity.
It is the first national day of mourning observed in Australia since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, marking the scale of the tragedy and its impact far beyond Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Led by the Bondi Chabad community, which was directly targeted in the antisemetic attack, the theme for the day is Light Will Win: A Gathering of Unity and Remembrance. Across the country, Australians are being invited to take part in public and private acts of remembrance, reflection and kindness.
Flags will be flown at half-mast on federal and NSW government buildings, while national institutions in Canberra and Sydney will be illuminated on Thursday evening.
A national memorial service will be held at the Sydney Opera House from 7pm and streamed online, allowing people across the country to participate. Fifteen candles, one for each victim of the attack, will be lit by family members during the service.
Dignitaries expected to attend include the prime minister, Governor-General Sam Mostyn, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and NSW Premier Chris Minns.
As part of the national observance, a commemorative installation titled 15 Pillars of Light will be erected in Canberra and across other Australian cities, with each pillar serving as a visible symbol of mourning, remembrance and national solidarity.
Beyond public ceremonies, the Jewish community has asked Australians to honour the victims through a doing One Mitzvah for Bondi. A mitzvah is a a good deed, such as an act of kindness or compassion. Suggested actions range from giving to others and uplifting the sick, to opening one’s home, prioritising family time, caring for animals, working with integrity and offering prayers for healing.
The call for practical goodwill echoes the response seen in the weeks following the attack. A month ago, thousands gathered at Bondi Beach for a vigil marked by grief, defiance and solidarity, as survivors spoke of bullets flying past them and the chaos of the attack.
Rabbi Mendel Kastel, who lost his brother-in-law Rabbi Eli Schlanger, arrived at the scene of the terrorist attack soon after it occurred. He said he had been heartened by the way people from across Australia had rallied around a Jewish community that was so viciously targeted.
“The one thing that’s common is a sense of community and support, looking after each other and trying to provide as much comfort as possible,” he said.
Local councils have also shared information about the day of mourning and asked their residents to participate by lighting a candle and joining in the one-minute silence.
New England Times publisher Raphaella Kathryn Crosby spoke about the call for all to do ‘One Mitzvah for Bondi’ at the memorial held in Armidale in December.
“It shows the beauty of Yiddishkeit – Jewish culture – that faced with yet another atrocity, yet another awful and senseless loss of life, that the Jewish community largely chose peace and seeking to do more good in the world rather than seek retribution or anger,” she said.
“If would be good if our politicians – of all colours – could perhaps see this day of mourning as an opportunity to draw a line in the sand and stop with their disappointing reactions and need to be seen to be doing something. And, in particular, stop seeking to leverage this tragedy for cheap votes.”
Australians are also being encouraged to mark the moment at home by leaving a candle on a window ledge or doorstep, with a minute’s silence scheduled for 7.01pm.
“This will be a very important day of mourning. It will be an opportunity for us to pay respects as a nation to those people who lost their lives,” the prime minister said.
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