Alberta’s Jewish community comes together after mass shooting in Australia

At least 15 people have been killed and dozens are injured after a mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia at a Hanukkah event over the weekend.

World leaders are condemning it as an ‘antisemitic terrorist attack’ and now, members of Alberta’s Jewish community are speaking out. 

“The Canadian Jewish community is very similar to the Australian Jewish community,” said Stacey Leavitt-Wright, CEO at the Jewish Federation of Edmonton. “So right away people start thinking about not only — of course our sympathies to the community there and how horrified we are for that community — but how something like this could easily happen in Canada.”

Lori Helfenbaum, a Jewish-Canadian social worker, says she is struck by the civilian who intervened.

“I believe his name was Ahmed al-Ahmad and he was a Muslim man,” she said. “To me, that also epitomizes the story of Hanukkah, which is the triumph of light over darkness.”

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith provided her sympathies on social media.

“As Jewish families in Alberta mark Hanukkah today, our hearts are heavy following the tragic and hateful events on Bondi Beach in Australia and the continued rise of antisemitism around the world,” she posted on X Sunday. “No one should ever face hatred or violence because of their faith. We stand with Jewish Albertans against hate and in solidarity with their communities.”

Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas also posting on X, saying Calgarians are with Australia’s Jewish community.

“We stand unequivocally with the Jewish community in Sydney, around the world, and here at home,” he said. “We mourn the lives lost, hold the injured and their families in our hearts, and honour the courage of first responders who ran toward danger.”

Calgary Police say they have increased patrols around synagogues and at local Hanukkah events.

“To Jewish Albertans, I’d say this is the time to stand united, to stand publicly Jewish, and to feel safe in doing so to do that with one another,” Leavitt-Wright said. “And to Canadians, to speak out against this type of rhetoric and this type of violent extremism.

A Menorah lighting took place at the Edmonton legislature on Sunday – and one is scheduled at Calgary City Hall on Monday.