Israel’s Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli visited Chabad’s emergency and security operations center in Kfar Chabad on Sunday night, as he traveled to Sydney to meet local Jewish leaders and mourners after the Bondi Beach Hanukkah attack, his office said.
The visit came hours after gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah gathering in Sydney, killing at least 15 people, including Chabad of Bondi emissary Rabbi Eli Schlanger.
Chabad’s security center, known as the CWA, has become a focal point for shluchim seeking guidance and real-time support, and staff were in continuous contact with relevant security and community bodies as details from Australia emerged, Chabad officials said.
Chikli began his stop by lighting a Hanukkah candle at the center’s offices alongside the center’s leadership, then delivered remarks of condolence and encouragement to Chabad emissaries, according to a statement shared by Chabad representatives.
“The attempt to extinguish the eternal flame will not succeed”
In his remarks, Chikli described the shooting as part of a broader pattern of antisemitic violence, referencing the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack and warning that Jews remain a target abroad as well as at home, according to the statement.
“They shoot men, women, and children at a Hanukkah celebration, but the attempt to extinguish the eternal flame of the eternity of Israel, the people of Israel, and the Torah of Israel will not succeed,” Chikli said, urging emissaries to continue public Hanukkah observances worldwide.
Chikli also praised the CWA’s around-the-clock work to protect Chabad houses and Jewish communities globally, calling it “holy work” carried out “24/7,” according to the statement.
Trip to Sydney amid rising concern over antisemitism in Australia
Chikli flew overnight to Sydney, where he is expected to visit Jewish institutions and bereaved families in the aftermath of the Bondi Beach attack, according to his office.
The Sydney massacre has intensified scrutiny of antisemitism and security threats in Australia, with recent Jerusalem Post reporting tracking a series of incidents ranging from intimidation and vandalism to violence.
The minister’s visit to the Chabad security hub concluded with a message he repeated throughout the stop: “The attempt to extinguish the eternal flame will not succeed,” the statement said.