The Council of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches strongly condemn the attack at Bondi Beach in Australia, which targeted the local Jewish community on the first night of Hanukkah.

 

Moreover, our hearts break for the victims and the Jewish community in New South Wales, whose festival of light has now been shrouded in violence.

 

God commands us to respect all innocent human beings—this is a belief shared by all the Children of Abraham the father of the prophets. We must also move beyond respect, as we are called to seek out ways to help one another. We praise the heroic actions of Ahmed al Ahmed, a Muslim who tackled one of the shooters, likely saving numerous lives. People of faith are called to help and defend one another, just as Ahmed did.

 

We pray for all impacted by this violence. We pray that the people of New South Wales and all Australia respond with empathy for and support of the local Jewish community. We pray for those fighting for their lives, and the medical professionals working tirelessly to save them. We will pray for the names of the departed, and for their families as they mourn. We pray for our broken world, that it may be healed, and all can worship freely and in peace.

 

—The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem