Wilmington rabbi reacts to Bondi Beach anti-Semitic terror attack

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Local Jewish leaders are expressing outrage following what is being called an anti-Semitic terror attack against a Jewish celebration of Hannukkah held on Australia’s iconic Bondi Beach over the weekend.

16 people were killed, and dozens more were injured.

The Chabad of Wilmington, Rabbi Moshe Lieblich, lit an ice menorah to mark the first day of Hanukkah at the Wilmington Riverwalk on Sunday.

Lieblich said he knew one of the victims, a fellow rabbi, whose son-in-law was killed in the shooting.

He said he is horrified the shooting happened on Hanukkah, but added that this attack will only make the Jewish people stronger and more together than ever.

“I never really let it affect me, and our response to it is always to increase what we’re doing and, to and not to back down, not to stand down, but on the contrary,” Lieblich said. “When things like this happen, we actually rise up and become stronger, become more resilient.”

Lieblich said the way to overcome these difficult times and the way we combat incidents like this is by increasing acts of goodness and kindess and bring forth the light, which are the messages of Hanukkah.