Of all the places in the world where a murderous antisemitic attack might have been anticipated, Sydney’s Bondi Beach in December would surely have been one of the last. Regarded enviously from the dark and cold of the northern hemisphere at this time of year, the sun, sea and sybaritic delights of Australia offer the sharpest possible contrast to the slaughter carried out against Jewish families celebrating the first evening of the festival of Hanukkah.
There were an estimated thousand people gathered for the celebrations by the beach. At least 12 were killed, including one of the two presumed gunmen; and as many as 30 were taken to hospital with injuries.
