Gold Coast community to hold vigil for the Bondi victims on Monday (22)
The Gold Coast community is preparing to come together in a powerful show of solidarity and remembrance following the antisemitic attack during Chanukah celebrations at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025.
The attack, which targeted members of the Jewish community during a time of religious and cultural significance, has deeply affected people across Australia. In response, the City of Gold Coast Light & Unity Vigil will be held on Monday 22 December 2025 at the HOTA (Home of the Arts) Outdoor Stage.
The event is designed to honour the victims, stand alongside the Jewish community, and send a clear message that hate-fuelled violence has no place in Australia.
Organisers say the vigil aims not only to mourn those affected, but also to offer a space for healing, reflection and unity.
The vigil is a free event, but tickets are required for entry, with a maximum of four tickets available per order to manage attendance. The gates will open at 5:00 pm, providing time for people to gather, find a place to sit and quietly reflect before the formal program begins.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a small chair or picnic rug so they can sit comfortably during the proceedings. The program is expected to include speeches from community leaders, interfaith representatives and local officials, as well as moments of silence and candle lighting.
The City of Gold Coast has emphasised that the vigil is open to all residents, regardless of background or faith, to demonstrate broad community support for those directly impacted by the attack and for the broader Jewish community both locally and nationally.
In recent years, rising concerns about antisemitism and other forms of hate speech and violence have prompted calls for stronger protections, better education and more visible displays of solidarity. Events like the Light & Unity Vigil are intended to counter fear and division with collective resilience and compassion.
Organisers say they hope the vigil will serve as a reminder that the Gold Coast – and Australia more broadly remains committed to being a place where all communities can live, worship and celebrate safely.
As candles are lit and names are remembered, the message from the Gold Coast will be simple but powerful: hate has no place here.
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