Many Jewish people in Newcastle are still living in fear, following Australia’s largest mass shooting in 29 years.
A shattered Rabbi Yossi Rodal from Newcastle Synagogue said the weekend’s gathering was meant to be a joyous occasion, with 15 December marking the beginning of the annual holiday Chanukah.
“The exact same event that was happening in Bondi was happening here as well on a smaller scale,” he explained.
“We first got an inkling on the news in the middle of the event.
“A lot of people, especially those with young families, got up and left as soon as they heard the news.
“They weren’t taking any chances.”
Rabbi Yossi told the Newcastle Weekly two of his good friends were sadly killed in the violent attack.
“I was just with these two guys on Tuesday… and now it’s hard to think that we’re never going to see them again,” he said.
“And, I know many people who were injured and tens of hundreds of people who hunkered down, just sheltering their children while the shots were being fired.”
Currently, it’s been reported a total of 16 people were killed and 40, including two police officers, were injured in the anti- Semitic attack.
The two shooters were confirmed to be a 50-year-old dad and his 24-year-old son.
The father was shot by police and died at the scene.
The son suffered critical injuries and was taken to hospital under armed guard.
The deceased are yet to be formally identified; police believe their ages range between 10 and 87 years.
Rabbi Yossi admitted it was not the first anti-Semitic attack the Australian Jewish community had experienced this year.
“It’s been challenging,” he said.
“People are feeling very vulnerable.”
However, he reiterated it’s important to not let these events divide the community.
“The Jewish response has always been you don’t fight hate with hate, you fight darkness with light,” Rabbi Yossi said.
“You’ve obviously got to respond in a way that is appropriate and safe, no one is saying not to.
“But, the government must clamp down on this and take appropriate action.
“They need to make sure it never happens again and no one even thinks they’ll do it again.
“We need to fight this with more acts of kindness in the world, not more hate.”
For more news stories:
- Fruit shop owner praised as hero after wrestling Bondi shooter
- Mass shooting targeted Jewish community as death toll mounts to 16
- Council embarks on Roads Futures Strategy in Port Stephens
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