Australia Unites: National Day of Mourning Honors Bondi Terror Attack Victims

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The 15 victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack are being remembered across the nation with a day of mourning.

Led by the Bondi Chabad, the theme for the sombre day is Light Will Win: A Gathering of Unity and Remembrance.

It is the first time Australia has observed a national day of mourning since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said flags will be flown at half-mast on Thursday and national institutions in Canberra and Sydney will be illuminated.

A national memorial service is set to unfold at the iconic Sydney Opera House, commencing at 7 p.m. This poignant event will also be accessible to audiences worldwide through an online stream.

The Prime Minister has called upon Australians to engage in this solemn occasion. He suggests a simple yet heartfelt tribute: placing a candle on your window ledge or doorstep. A nationwide minute of silence is scheduled for 7:01 p.m., offering a collective moment of reflection.

Fifteen candles, one for each victim of the anti-Semitic terror attack, will be lit by the families of those slain.

Dignitaries slated to attend alongside the prime minister include Governor-General Sam Mostyn, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and NSW Premier Chris Minns.

“This will be a profoundly significant day of mourning,” the Prime Minister remarked. “It presents an opportunity for us, as a nation, to honor those who tragically lost their lives.”

Adding to the commemorative efforts, an evocative installation known as the 15 Pillars of Light will be set up across various Australian cities. This installation aims to symbolize unity and remembrance.

This national tribute follows a month after a powerful vigil held at Bondi Beach, which drew thousands of attendees. The vigil served as a cathartic expression of defiance and grief, with survivors sharing their harrowing experiences of narrowly escaping harm.

In Victoria, a multi-faith vigil will be held earlier on Thursday at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Institutions nationwide will be illuminated as a symbol of light on Thursday, including national buildings in Canberra and government buildings in NSW and Victoria.

A commemorative installation, 15 Pillars of Light, will also be erected throughout Australian cities.

Coming together through kindness or compassion

The Jewish community has requested that Australians come together through a mitzvah, an act of kindness or compassion.

This can include giving to others, helping the sick, offering hospitality, providing kindness to animals, or greeting people with warmth and positivity.

It comes a month after a vigil at Bondi Beach attended by thousands of people in a cathartic show of defiance and sadness, as survivors recounted harrowing tales of bullets flying past them.

Rabbi Mendel Kastel, who lost his brother-in-law Rabbi Eli Schlanger, arrived at the scene of the terrorist attack soon after.

He has been heartened by people coming together to support a Jewish community so viciously targeted.

“The one thing that’s common is a sense of community and support, looking after each other and trying to provide as much comfort as possible,” he told AAP.