YU Reacts to Sydney Chanukah Shooting

Yeshiva University held a series of commemorations following the mass shooting attack at a Chanukah party in Sydney, Australia that left 15 people dead.

The attack occurred on Sunday, Dec. 14 at Bondi Beach, where Chabad was leading its annual “Chanukah by the Sea” program for more than 1,000 attendees. Chabad emissary Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who helped organize the event, was among those killed. The suspected perpetrators are Sajid Akram, who died during the shooting, and his son Naveed, who has been charged with 15 counts of murder.

President Rabbi Ari Berman condemned the attack in a Dec. 14 post on X. “We are devastated and heartbroken by the terrorist attack on Bondi Beach in Sydney, where Jews were murdered solely because they were Jewish,” he wrote. “We mourn with the families who lost their loved ones in this horrific act of violence. They are with us always — in our thoughts and in our prayers.” 

On the same day, the YU Security Department sent an email informing students that it would carry out “increased patrols across all our campuses.” 

“As always, the Security Department remains in close touch with the New York City Police Department, which has implemented additional measures to oversee and protect Jewish institutions, including Yeshiva University,” the email read. 

Also that day, Yeshiva Student Union President Aiden Harow (YC ‘26) sent a link to a YU student WhatsApp chat raising money for affected families. “They need our support in this dark time,” he wrote.

At the Dec. 15 Chanukah celebration and lunch at the Wilf Campus’ Heights Lounge, dancing was paused to recite Tehillim, and at least one table displayed a list of names for whom students were asked to pray. That afternoon, at the Beren Campus, Rabbi Azriel Fine spoke and introduced Chabad Rabbi Sholom Schapiro, who urged students to combat darkness by “adding light to the world.” Tehillim were then recited. 

That night, the Morgenstern Residence Hall held a campus-wide gathering featuring remarks from Dean Rabbi Yosef Kalinsky, Rabbi Mordechai Becher — who is originally from Australia — President Berman, Rosie Schlanger (SCW ‘27), niece of Rabbi Schlanger, and Sydney native Alex Kirievsky (SSSB ‘29). The evening drew coverage from ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, the New York Times, Pix 11 and Spectrum.

“Last night, we gathered as a community in memory of the lives lost in the recent terrorist attack at Bondi Beach in Australia alongside Yeshiva University students who were directly impacted by this tragedy,” Rabbi Berman wrote on X the next day. “With grief and resolve to perpetuate the values of those who were taken, the Yeshiva University community stands with our global Jewish family. We draw strength from one another, and we reaffirm our shared commitment to bringing light, hope and humanity into the world.”

At the American Dream mall on Tuesday night, where students, faculty and alumni visited the mall’s theme park as part of YU’s “Chanukah Brighter Together” event, Director of Student Life Jonathan Schwab introduced Rabbi Shay Schachter to recite Tehillim, and Kirievsky lit a candle for the third night of Chanukah.

“YU has felt like a family,” Kirievsky, who said he received more than 90 “messages of support,” told The Commentator. “It’s really comforting to know I’ve got people behind me.” 

Rebecca Henner contributed to this article.

Photo Caption: (Left to Right) Alex Kirievsky (SSSB ‘29) and President Ari Berman

Photo Credit: Daniel Brauner