The UK's Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, has arrived in Australia, declaring that "all Jewish hearts are broken" in the wake of the devastating terror attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney.
A Mission of Solidarity and Support
Rabbi Mirvis, who serves as Chief Rabbi to the UK and the Commonwealth, flew into Sydney early on Thursday, 18 December 2025. He told Sky News his presence was a necessity, stating, "This is my place. This is where I need to be." His visit is a direct response to Sunday's shooting, which targeted an event marking the start of Hanukkah, leaving 15 people dead and 22 others hospitalised.
He emphasised his role as a symbol of global Jewish solidarity. "I am here as a symbol of the extent that the whole Jewish world's hearts are broken at this time, and we identify with the Jewish community in Australia," Rabbi Mirvis said. "And we're here to give them support."
'Shocked, But Not Surprised' by Rising Extremism
When questioned about a similar attack on a synagogue in Greater Manchester earlier in the year, which claimed two lives, Rabbi Mirvis expressed a sentiment echoing through Jewish communities worldwide. The community felt "we're shocked, but we're not surprised," he revealed.
He linked the tragedy directly to a pervasive atmosphere of hate. "It was shocking to actually see it happening," he explained, "but because of the tone of the hateful rhetoric on the streets of cities in the UK, and the extent to which it wasn't always dealt with as emphatically as it should have, therefore, terrorism could thrive." He reported hearing identical feelings in Sydney, describing the Bondi attack as a "deep, deep tragedy" of enormous scale.
Rabbi Mirvis framed the issue as a civilisational threat extending beyond the Jewish community. "It's not just a tragedy for Jewish people. It's a tragedy for all of our societies because we need to identify not just the symptoms, but also the root causes and amongst the root causes, hateful extremism, which is a threat to our entire civilisation."
Community Resilience and Hope at Bondi
The Chief Rabbi praised the Australian Jewish community's response, stating they "don't need any lectures" on unity. "It's coming from the heart. Their souls are so active," he observed. He highlighted their bonding, connection to faith, and love for Israel amidst what he described as widespread demonisation.
"Standing tall as Jews during these exceptionally difficult times and being positive. We are the people of hope," Rabbi Mirvis said. "And right here at Bondi Beach, that's what I'm picking up on. Great hope."
The visit follows significant developments in the police investigation. Naveed Akram, 24, one of the alleged gunmen, has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and a terrorism charge. The other alleged attacker, his 50-year-old father Sajid Akram, died at the scene. Authorities have stated the pair were motivated by Islamic State ideology, and a recent trip to the Philippines is under scrutiny.
