Reject antisemitism, oppose genocide
Four thoughts after the deadly attack on Jews in Sydney
Rightly, there is lots of coverage of the anti-Jewish attack in Sydney that killed at least 15 people. May the memories of the victims be a blessing to all.
A core principle of Judaism is the idea that every life is a universe. In Sanhedrin (a supreme rabbinical court) 37a:13, it says:
The court tells the witnesses: Therefore, Adam the first man was created alone, to teach you that with regard to anyone who destroys one soul from the Jewish people, i.e., kills one Jew, the verse ascribes him blame as if he destroyed an entire world, as Adam was one person, from whom the population of an entire world came forth. And conversely, anyone who sustains one soul from the Jewish people, the verse ascribes him credit as if he sustained an entire world.1
Ahmed al-Ahmed fulfilled the latter principle of sustenance during the anti-Jewish attack. [NB: The Australian government’s press release indicates the man’s name is Ahmed el-Ahmed.] The Guardian has the video here.
A man who heroically tackled and disarmed one of the Bondi Beach gunmen has been named.
News.com.au can confirm the hero has been named as 43-year-old Ahmed al Ahmed, a Sydney local who owns a fruit shop in Sutherland.
The father-of-two was shot twice during the unbelievable act, according to his cousin who spoke to 7News.
“He’s in hospital and we don’t know exactly what’s going on inside,” the man named Mustafa told the outlet.
“We do hope he will be fine. He’s a hero 100 per cent.”2
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once again demonstrated why he is the worst leader in Jewish history. Here are his comments after the attack, reported by The Guardian.
The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said he had written to his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, in August, warning that the government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state “pours fuel on the antisemitic fire … emboldens those who menace Australian Jews and encourages the Jew hatred now stalking your streets”. He claimed Albanese had “replaced weakness with weakness and appeasement with more appeasement”.
“Your government did nothing to stop the spread of antisemitism in Australia. You did nothing to curb the cancer cells that were growing inside your country. You took no action. You let the disease spread and the result is the horrific attacks on Jews we saw today.”3
Netanyahu’s comments are adjacent to those from Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli. This fascist-loving buffoon is unfit to lead a one-car parade, let alone represent the interests of diaspora Jews.
In a statement, Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Ministry said that the Australian government bore responsibility for the shooting, claiming that Canberra “is doing everything in its power to ensure that Australian Jews cannot live safely, peacefully, and securely as Jews in their own country.”
“Since October 7, instead of standing firmly and unequivocally alongside the State of Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East and the frontline of the free world against jihadist terrorism, the Australian government has chosen a policy of weakness, restraint, and appeasement,” stated the ministry, which is led by hardline Likud minister Amichai Chikli.
The statement further accused Canberra of “appeasing the enemies of Western civilization,” adding that all available data indicated that “Australia has become one of the Western countries experiencing the sharpest and most alarming rise in antisemitic incidents since October 7,” and that “repeated warnings, appeals, and attempts to engage with the authorities have been met time and again with a wall of indifference.”4
Netanyahu and Chikli are hypocrites. Their government allowed the worst attack in Israel’s history to take place. Neither of them are advocating for a state inquiry to investigate their government’s failure on Oct. 7, 2023. And quite frankly, Israel’s genocide in Gaza in tandem with its authoritarian trajectory will not make life easier for diaspora Jews. Thus, we mourn the dead in Australia, and we oppose the genocide in Gaza because every life is a universe.
Killing Jews for being Jews is always wrong. The attack is the worst mass shooting in Australia in nearly three decades. Here’s Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:
“I say on behalf of all Australians to the Jewish community, we stand with you,” he said. “We embrace you and we reaffirm tonight that you have every right to be proud of who you are and what you believe … There is no place for this hate, violence and terrorism in our nation. Let me be clear: we will eradicate it.”5
Here’s hoping that a better world for all of us, including Jews, is possible. It likely won’t come if we embrace Israel’s particularism over universal values.
Sefaria, Sanhedrin 37a:13
news.com.au, Hero bystander named after tackling Bondi Beach shooter: https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/news/hero-bystander-tackles-bondi-beach-shooter/news-story/fc37324c807ffba71e212cd5c6915a18
The Guardian, Benjamin Netanyahu blames Anthony Albanese for Bondi beach terror attack, as world leaders express horror: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/dec/15/benjamin-netanyahu-blames-anthony-albanese-for-bondi-beach-terror-attack-as-world-leaders-express-horror
Times of Israel, Ministry accuses Australian government of encouraging attacks on Jews: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/ministry-accuses-australian-government-of-encouraging-attacks-on-jews/
The Guardian, ‘We stand with you:’ Jewish leaders around the world respond to the Bondi Beach attack: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/dec/14/jewish-communities-bondi-beach-attack-sydney