Thousands of Australians are expected to perform acts of kindness on Thursday to commemorate the victims of last month’s Bondi terror attack, as the Jewish tradition of mitzvah is embraced across faiths and communities.
A mitzvah, a core value in Judaism, is commonly understood as a charitable or good deed. Australians have been encouraged to carry out such acts as part of a national day of mourning.
Carole Schlessinger, the chief executive and co-founder of the charity Kids Giving Back, will take part in the initiative. Since the attack, she has run a weekly One Mitzvah for Bondi programme, opening the charity’s doors to families to prepare meals for vulnerable communities. Two events are planned for Thursday.
Schlessinger said encouraging children and families to carry out acts of kindness helped give young people a sense of purpose and hope at a difficult time.
Daniel Aghion, president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said he would spend part of the day at a synagogue while also practising a mitzvah. He described it as a “beautiful Jewish tradition”.
He said the widespread support for mitzvahs following the Bondi terror attack had made him proud of both his Jewish faith and the Australian community.
“The antidote to exclusion is inclusion,” he said, adding that acts of kindness could help bring Australians together after a tragic event.
The national day of mourning will culminate in an official memorial service at the Sydney Opera House on Thursday evening. The invitation-only event has been organised by Chabad of Bondi, with support from the federal government, community partners and faith leaders.
The service will be held under the theme “Light Will Win, a Gathering of Unity and Remembrance”.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, the opposition leader, Sussan Ley, and the New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, are among those expected to speak.
Survivors of the terror attack, bereaved families, first responders, community leaders and government representatives are also expected to attend.
The Opera House will be illuminated alongside other significant national buildings in line with the day’s theme. Guests will arrive from 5.30pm AEDT, with the service running from 7pm to about 9pm AEDT.
Proceedings will be livestreamed on Chabad of Bondi’s YouTube channel.
The memorial will begin with a national minute’s silence, followed by prayers led by Rabbi Pinchus Feldman.
The national anthem will be performed by the Choir of the Great Synagogue, and 15 candles will be lit by family members and representatives of those who died in the terror attack.
The programme will also include tribute videos, musical performances, official addresses and memorial readings.
Rabbi Yossi Friedman of Chabad of Bondi said that, with the Opera House event now at capacity, a separate name-reading and candle-lighting ceremony would be held at Bondi Pavilion from 5.30pm to 6pm.
The chief executive of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, Michele Goldman, described the day as a moment for Australians to reflect on the 15 lives lost in the terror attack, which took place on the first night of Hanukah.
She encouraged Australians to honour the victims by carrying out acts of kindness, such as checking on neighbours, volunteering or supporting local businesses.
In Victoria, multifaith leaders will gather at St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in Melbourne at 11.15am on Thursday for a public vigil, which will also be livestreamed.
Victoria’s premier, Jacinta Allan, said the vigil would be an opportunity to stand with the Jewish community and reaffirm shared values.
It will be the first national day of mourning observed in Australia since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
