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Rabbi Mendel Slavin is helping his North Shore community to heal after the devastating Bondi attacks
Rabbi Mendel Slavin lost five good friends at the Bondi terrorist attack on 14 December. Instead of filling his heart with hate and anger, he is promoting a message of healing.
On the day of the attack, the rabbi, who heads up Cremorne Synagogue, was involved in his own Hanukkah celebration on the Lower North Shore. The group’s security told them as soon as the shooting was reported and those celebrating the festival of light were sent home – and the organisers went into lockdown. It didn’t take long for Mendel to be told his good friends Rabbi Yaakov Levitan and Rabbi Eli Schlanger had been shot and killed in the attack. “It was terrible. And it’s news that you never expect to hear. Not in Sydney.”
Born and raised in Bondi, Mendel is close to his rabbinical colleagues, saying the east ‘is my people.’ His own sister, her husband and two children were at the Bondi Hanukkah celebration – but by a ‘miracle’ all survived. Rabbi Mendel says he believes this was due to the actions of one of his friends, Reuben Morrison, the gentleman who threw bricks at one of the gunmen, and was then shot dead. “He was a really tough guy and a good community man. And he picked up a brick, and he threw it at the (alleged) terrorist.
“And he was cursing at him in Russian, and he was distracting him for quite a while, until he was (allegedly) shot 11 times before he died. An absolute hero.
“And I believe because of that, my brother-in-law and my nephew were saved. Because (the alleged shooter) was probably 20 meters away from them.”
The rabbi names two other victims who died as friends – in total five citizens who lost their lives for no other reason than being Jewish. “We’re all mourning, we’re all grieving, all heartbroken.”
Despite this, Rabbi Mendel points to the fact that there were so many more ‘near-misses’ at the attack. “There has been so much pain and so much loss. But there have been so many silver linings. Kids that had dragged their parents to the other side of the field to get some candy, so they were further away from the shooting.
“Because the (alleged) terrorists, they sought not to kill 15 people. They (allegedly) came with pipe bombs (which they allegedly threw) into the crowd. They (allegedly) wanted to kill hundreds and hundreds of people. And thank God, the bombs didn’t go off.
Hundreds of flowers were left outside the synagogue in the days after the attack
“The fact that they didn’t kill more people is really a miracle.”
Since the attacks, Rabbi Mendel says many in his congregation are much more afraid to go out. While they were already used to going past armed guards to go to the synagogue, the ‘fear is on a whole different level,’ he states.
“That which we were most afraid of has taken place. We shouldn’t have to be afraid. We shouldn’t have to feel any fear in these circumstances.
“And the government showing us how they take care of the Jewish people, and by showing that it stands behind our Jewish community, it will mean that Australia will be safe for all Australians.”
Police from the North Shore Police Area Command recently talked to the congregation to allay any concerns about safety. They also regularly patrol the area. “The police have been fantastic. We are extremely grateful,” Rabbi Mendel said.
Not long after the attacks, locals from the North Shore community started leaving flowers outside the synagogue, which amounted to around 200 bouquets, countless ‘beautiful letters of condolences’ and ‘hundreds’ of emails in support of the Jewish community. “People coming over and saying ‘We’re here with you. We stand with you. We decry what took place.’ It was so validating.
“The community should know how amazing they’ve been. And how much we appreciate their support.”
Rabbi Mendel has been talking to his congregation about how to heal and move forward. “We have been heartbroken. We are traumatised. We’re in a lot of pain.”
While many are angry, he says ‘focusing on the anger doesn’t help us.’
“We cannot fight this abject darkness that we’re facing with violence, or anger and hate. That has never been our answer. The Jewish people have been persecuted for 3,500 years, and we have survived against all the odds. And the way we have survived is by shedding light. Because darkness can only be banished with light.”
Many people want to know how to help, and Rabbi Mendel says there are two ways to contribute. The NSW Government has set up the online One Mitzvah for Bondi campaign which encourages people to help others. “Any act of goodness and kindness that adds light to the world, that has been the surest way to banish the darkness that we’re experiencing.”
In addition, there has been a fund set up called Support Sydney exclusively for families whose loved ones died in the attack and need financial assistance.
At the time of writing, $4.8 million had been donated.
To make a donation to the fund, visit: charidy.com/supportsydney
