Winnipeg Jewish community left ‘shocked and devastated’ by Bondi Beach massacre

Winnipeg’s Jewish community is coming together following the deadly attack on the first day of Hanukkah on Bondi Beach in Australia. Harrison Shin reports.

Hannukah celebrations around Winnipeg will see increased security measures following a mass shooting in Australia that left 15 people dead and dozens injured.

“The Jewish community of Winnipeg is shocked and devastated by the horrifying events that happened in Sydney, Australia ... where there was a massacre at a Hanukkah celebration,” said Jeff Lieberman, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg.

“We give our condolences to those that lost their lives and to their families. To those that have been injured, we wish them a speedy recovery.”

Lieberman’s words follow the Sunday massacre at a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach. One gunman — a 50-year-old man — was fatally shot by the police. The other shooter, his 24-year-old son, was wounded and treated in hospital.

Lieberman said it’s “devastating” for an attack like this to happen during Hanukkah, which is a time of light and celebration for the Jewish community.

“Jews around the world celebrate Hanukkah with the lighting of eight candles over eight days,” he said.

“And it [proves to] us and our culture and our heritage and our values that we were resistant against hate expressions and extremists.”

Lieberman said the Jewish Federation has been in touch with law enforcement, and people can expect a police presence at upcoming Hanukkah events and Jewish institutions in the city.

He added that it’s important for the Jewish community to celebrate Hanukkah but also feel safe in doing so.

“We want people to celebrate Hanukkah,” he said.

“It’s dampened because of what happened in Australia, but at the same time, we need to be able to celebrate our holidays.”

The Winnipeg Police Service has spoken with leaders from the city’s Jewish community and people can expect to see a larger police presence around synagogues and other Jewish centres in the city.

“We want to make sure that the community is aware we’re there,” said Insp. Shaun Veldman, the officer in charge of special events for police. “We want to make sure things are safe. We’re there to deter, but we also want to be there to reassure the community at a sensitive time, as they gather to celebrate an event related to their faith.”

Rabbi Aníbal Mass with Congregation Shaarey Zedek said Winnipeg’s Jewish community remains in shock, but people are trying to come together.

“People are calling each other to get together, to light the Hanukkah candles, to come to synagogue and to show that all these terrorist acts won’t stop us from expressing our Judaism,” Mass said.

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• Shooting on Bondi Beach pierces Australia’s sense of security. Survivors remember moments of terror
• As Australia looks at tighter gun laws, what’s known so far about the Bondi Beach Hanukkah massacre
• Father and son gunmen kill at least 15 people in attack on Hanukkah event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach

With files from CTV’s Harrison Shin