Newsletter: Solidarity with Australia

Hello Friend,

I recently had the privilege of traveling to Australia with the Jewish Federations of North America to express solidarity with Sydney’s Jewish community following the 2025 Chanukah attack there.

Communities that have experienced mass violence never want new members. We do not want another family or community to experience the devastation of mass violence, and especially not violence carried out in the name of antisemitism.

Yet, there is another truth that I often share when teaching about trauma. Healing happens in relationship with one another. Even in the aftermath of profound loss, meaningful connections can emerge, including between places across the world from one another.

Sydney’s inspiring Jewish community is well versed in the impact of relationships. In fact, the community is so vibrant that people simply refer to it as “Community,” as if it were a proper noun. Someone might say, “Community is meeting to discuss support for families impacted by the attack,” and everyone understands exactly what that means. The Jewish community is such a visible and collaborative force that it is often spoken about as a singular, shared endeavor.

In Sydney, where the Jewish population is similar in size to Pittsburgh’s, there is a remarkable sense of collective responsibility. Nearly every Jewish household is connected in some way to volunteer service, whether through a Jewish volunteer paramedic corps or a volunteer security organization that operates around the clock. Civic engagement is woven deeply into Australian society, and that tradition is reflected powerfully within Jewish life. That communal culture shaped the response to the attack on December 14, 2025.

As I learned more about what happened that day, I was struck by how trauma unfolds when so many people are trained, engaged, and prepared to help. The attack occurred in one of Australia’s most popular public spaces, Bondi Beach. The lifesaving response was extraordinary. Those who rushed to assist the wounded often saw themselves primarily as first responders, making the communal traumatic impact of this shooting both far-reaching and unique.

We often hear Mr. Rogers’ advice to “look for the helpers.” In Sydney, you do not have to look far. We know that after a mass violence attack, the presence of capable, connected, and caring people throughout a community can shape not only the immediate response to violence but also the trajectory of recovery that follows.

At the same time, Sydney’s Jewish community is navigating challenges that extend beyond a single day. The Sydney attack serves as a reminder that when rhetoric and actions consistently blame, dehumanize, and alienate a group of people, the consequences can be devastating. In a country known for relatively low levels of gun violence, this attack was a stark warning about where antisemitism can lead.

To address the attack and rising antisemitism, Australia has launched a wide-ranging Royal Commission on Combating Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. For more than two years, Australian Jews have experienced increasing hostility, including hateful rhetoric, vandalism, and fire bombings targeting synagogues and businesses. The commission seeks to understand how this happened and what can be done to prevent future acts of violence. Those are important questions. Yet I also worry about the emotional toll that such public examinations can have on a community already carrying the burden of trauma. There is a risk that the process can deepen feelings of isolation or reinforce existing divisions.

How do we fight isolation, this loneliness that can permeate communities after attacks like these? I visited Australia to show solidarity to the Community by hearing their stories, learning about the victims, and seeing both their suffering and their bravery. This is where solidarity starts; simply standing witness.

There is no way to prescribe one way to “do solidarity;” there’s no one-size-fits-all for any person or any situation. Many of the most touching moments after October 27th were from people who listened so carefully and with so much compassion that their acts of solidarity could only have come from them and their authentic connection to the event.

We cannot be everywhere and do everything, but our gestures can be informed by this level of listening and care. One way you could learn about the Sydney community is through a beautiful memorial exhibit called Holding Light created by the Shalom Collective.

In Jewish tradition the first year after a loss is marked by milestones that help us remember, reflect, and gradually integrate grief into our lives. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel taught that there are three ways to mourn. First, to cry; second, to grow silent; and third, to transform sorrow into song. We have recently passed the six-month mark since the Bondi Beach shooting. May the memories of the fifteen victims be a blessing to all who knew and loved them. May we take the time to learn their names, understand their stories, and honor their lives through action, prayer, ritual, learning, or service.

In Solidarity,
Maggie Feinstein
Executive Director
10.27 Healing Partnership