Local Jewish leaders react to Bondi terror attack
The Jewish community are being assured they’ll be protected during Hanukkah celebrations
Local faith leaders say people shouldn't have to fear celebrating religious holidays after a Hanukkah celebration taking place on Bondi Beach in Australia was targeted by gunmen.
The lead Rabbi of the Three Counties Liberal Jewish Community, which operates in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, says she’s been spending her time having conversations with the police and members of the community about safety rather than on Hanukkah celebrations.
Rabbi Anna Gerrard told Greatest Hits Radio that local police got in touch after the events in Bondi took place to offer extra protection: “We as an outlying rural community are really quite safe compared to some of the bigger synagogues in London for example, but we have had to increase our security and we have been really delighted with the response of the local police.
“It’s utterly appalling and absurd that they have to be there, we will not stop celebrating our festivals, we will not be stopped.
“But something has to be done because it’s happening too often.”
Rabbi Anna Gerrard says people should not have to fear attending celebrations: “It has an impact, a far-reaching impact on the Jewish community around the world really.
“Making us feel that little bit more unsafe than we were already feeling.
“And this is what’s really terrifying and horrifying is the fact that so many of our festivals now are associated with these incidents.”
She added: “We will continue to function as a community, to hold our services, to hold our festival celebrations, and that will not change.
“That is despite and because of what is happening, because that is just what we do.
“We gather because we want to, we gather because we want to celebrate our religion, our culture, our faith.”