Matt Smith (Leichhardt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the condolence motion on behalf of the people of Leichhardt. The Far North feels a long way away from the sands of Bondi, but distance does not lessen compassion nor diminish grief. So I stand in this chamber today in solidarity and in sorrow with Australia's Jewish community. The heinous events of 14 December—a targeted attack on Australians of Jewish faith, an attack during a time of celebration—were a darkness that threatened to extinguish Hanukkah, the festival of the light. But, with the resilience and the compassion of Australians of every faith, that light shone through.

In the days that followed, I worked closely with the Far North Jewish community. At the invite of Rabbi Ari Rubin, I attended a memorial service the next day. It was not just a memorial service but an act of defiance. The feelings of those present were of hurt, confusion, anger and grief. For too many in the room, those feelings were familiar. But, in that room, the small community hall 2,500 kilometres away from Bondi, compassion, love, resilience and defiance shone through. On the second night of Hanukkah, we celebrated together with the lighting of the menorah. In the coming days, Rabbi Ari worked his way down from the Far North to Mackay to be there for his community, to celebrate Hanukkah and to maintain his steadfast refusal to be cowed. It was only later that Ari revealed to me that he had lost close friends in the attack. Yet he held firm to his strength and resolve, which many of us could only begin to imagine.

Back in Cairns, Udi David Stern worked hard to create and deliver a community event to welcome and allow the Far North to embrace the community, our community, our friends. So, when we reconvened on the national day of reflection on that eighth day of Hanukkah, there were hundreds of Far Northerners out of every creed, colour and persuasion—a community of Australians united simply by their humanity and compassion for their fellow citizens. Udi did that for us.

There is an old Jewish proverb that I've thought of a lot. It goes, 'I ask not for a lighter burden but for broader shoulders.' This one proverb speaks so much to the resilience of the Jewish community. But I say to Australians of Jewish faith: your shoulders are broad enough. We have come to share and lighten these burdens, we have come to stand with you, we have come to grieve with you, and we have come to heal with you, because you are us. Earlier today, the member for Macnamara moved us all with his speech. He spoke of dehumanisation. What did those monsters see? What did they see on that day? What do they see when they look at him? When I look at the member for Macnamara, I see my friend. I see Josh. When I look at Rabbi Ari, I see a friend and a man who placed his community first. When I look at my friend Udi, I see a man who moved heaven and Earth to give us an opportunity to come together as a community to grieve and show support.

Like so many others, I wish that it had not come to this. We have a responsibility now to ensure that antisemitism is stamped out and rooted out in all of its forms and that Jewish Australians feel safe, loved and welcome in this country that we are so proud to call home, which has until now been largely untouched by such horror. Fifteen people had their lives taken by two monsters who had perverted and then weaponised the teaching of a religion that quite literally means 'peace'. They did this only to justify their own hatred. Fifteen people who should be going about a normal day. They should be at work, playing with grandkids, doing the shopping and the chores that annoy people, getting ready for the school year.

In the Jewish faith, saying the names of the departed ensures that their memories live on. The names have been said many times today, entered into Hansard for eternity. I take the opportunity now to do so as well—Matilda, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, Alex Kleytman, Boris and Sofia Gurman, Peter Meagher, Reuven Morrison, Edith Brutman, Dan Elkayam, Marika Pogany, Adam Smyth, Boris Tetleroyd, Tania Tretiak, Tibor Weitzen.

I extend my deepest condolences to their families and their friends and the Jewish community of Australia. I pay tribute to the first responders and heroes of the day.

Rabbi Ari, who I spent much time with over the weeks, maintained that the light will overcome the dark, always. Let us now turn to the light together. May their memories be a blessing.

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