The Jewish community in Australia is enveloped in profound grief.

The tragic mass shooting at Bondi Beach, claiming 15 lives, has manifested their deepest fears amid a backdrop of escalating antisemitic incidents nationwide.

“The menace we sensed has now intensified,” a community member expressed.

Emanuel Synagogue, alongside other Sydney synagogues, prioritizes security, employing guards, utilizing CCTV systems, and maintaining heightened awareness of all who enter.

A July 2025 inquiry into antisemitism in New South Wales revealed that Emanuel Synagogue had been specifically targeted at least four times in the previous year.

“As Jews, we exist and live in a different way from every other religious or ethnic community in Australia. We’re the only ones who have security guards outside our schools and we have fences and protection,” Ninio said.

“You can’t come to a synagogue service without first passing through a level of security.

“We’ve kind of just accepted that that’s the way it is and I think it’s a reality we should never have had to accept.”

Ninio said her community in Woollahra, located just a few minutes from Bondi, won’t let an act of terrorism stop them from practising their faith publicly.

The mass shooting took place on the first night of Hanukkah, an eight-day festival of lights.

She is defiant that Jewish Australians will continue to gather together, mourn and spread the light of Hanukkah.

“I really think it’s so important for us to continue to gather and to be able to be together,” she said.

“Unfortunately, to do that we’re going to need extra protection and security to feel safe.

“We really, really need more than ever to feel each other’s presence and to be with the rituals.”

Emanuel held a prayer service on Monday with just a few hours’ notice.

Ninio said the synagogue was able to serve as a meeting point for grieving community members following the shooting with the help and protection of police.

“The need to be together is greater than the fear at this time,” she added.

Jewish schools and homeowners have also added heightened security to protect themselves after multiple firebombings and graffiti incidents.

Mt Sinai College in Maroubra was vandalised with antisemitic graffiti in May last year.

The school’s principal Noelene Bellingham said the school would take “immediate steps” to enhance security, including 24/7 protection.

Police presence has been beefed up in key areas where Jewish people gather over the past 12 months, particularly in Melbourne and Sydney.

In Victoria, the Community Security Group (CSG) has been more prolific than ever, offering on-site security for Jewish events, synagogues and institutions.

“What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of terror, an act of antisemitism, an attack on the first day of Chanukah targeted at the Jewish community,” the PM said when announcing the funding.

“A dark day in Australia’s history on what should have been a day of light.”

If you have been impacted by the terror attack in Bondi there is support available.

To contact Lifeline Australia, call 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14.

For people under 25 years old, you can contact Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800.

Both of these are available on a 24/7 basis.