Sydney, Australia is a long way from Pittsburgh—9,611 miles and 14 time zones, according to Google. And yet, during the seven days I spent there, I felt completely at home in their vibrant and deeply connected Jewish community.

The Jewish Federations of North America organized a small, three-day solidarity mission of Federation leaders to stand with the Sydney community—specifically with the Jewish Communal Appeal (JCA). Our purpose was to show support, share some of our experience and learn from theirs following the devastating terror attack on December 14, 2025 at Bondi Beach. Fifteen people were killed, 40 were injured and countless others narrowly escaped what has become the deadliest terror incident in Australian history.

The Sydney Jewish community is structured differently from ours in North America. The JCA serves as the central fundraising, planning and allocations body—similar to our Federation—but focuses exclusively on local needs. Separate organizations handle other essential functions: Keren Hayesod supports Israel, the Board of Deputies leads advocacy and the Community Security Group (CSG) is responsible for security.

Given our experience in Pittsburgh following the October 27, 2018 attack on three congregations, our Federation was asked to lead several sessions during the mission. We were honored to bring Maggie Feinstein, Director of the 10.27 Healing Partnership, as part of our delegation. Her presence and expertise were deeply appreciated by everyone we met.

A few moments from the trip will stay with me:

Visiting Bondi Beach

While I had seen video coverage of the December 14 attack, nothing prepared me for standing there in person—walking across the bridge where one of the shooters took aim, and standing on the grass where people had gathered to celebrate Chanukah and were suddenly under fire. This antisemitic attack occurred in one of Sydney’s most iconic public spaces. At the center of the site now stands a Chanukiah serving as a memorial. Maggie brought stones painted by Pittsburgh children, which we placed at its base—a small but meaningful act of connection and remembrance.

Kesser Torah College

One striking aspect of the Sydney Jewish community is that approximately half of its children attend Jewish day schools. We visited several impressive institutions, including Kesser Torah College. One of the victims, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, was both a Chabad rabbi and a teacher at the school. The school’s leadership shared data that underscored the profound impact of the attack on their students, faculty and families. It is difficult to fully grasp the depth of those wounds. Like many institutions across Sydney, they are committed to a victim-centered, trauma-informed approach—something our Pittsburgh community has also prioritized.

Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion

At nearly every meeting, the Royal Commission was a central topic of discussion. As we learned, a Royal Commission is the highest form of independent public inquiry in Australia, with broad investigative powers to examine major societal issues. While it does not create law, its findings can shape government action. It remains to be seen how impactful this process will be, but I will be following its progress closely in the months ahead.

There were many additional meaningful moments, including visits with Jillian Segal, the Australian Government’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism; Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley, Governor of New South Wales; Hillel Newman, the Israeli Ambassador; and Jeremy Cornforth, Acting U.S. Consul General.

I stayed in Sydney for two additional days to participate in the JCA’s annual community campaign event, where I was invited to speak. More than 1,600 people attended, with actress and advocate Debra Messing as the featured guest. In my remarks, I shared lessons from Pittsburgh—that recovery is a marathon, not a sprint—and, most importantly, I conveyed a message of solidarity: a heartfelt embrace from all of you to all of them.

My connection with the Sydney Jewish community is only beginning, and I fully expect it to grow in the years ahead.

May Their Memories Be a Blessing

Matilda Britvan, hy”d (10)
Edith Brutman, hy”d (68)
Dan Elkayam, hy”d (27)
Sofia Gurman, hy”d (61)
Boris Gurman, hy”d (69)
Alex Kleytman, hyd (87)
Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, hy”d (39)
Peter Meagher, hy”d (61)
Reuven Morrison, hy”d (62)
Marika Pogany, hy”d (82)
Rabbi Eli Schlanger, hy”d (41)
Adam Smyth, hy”d (50)
Boris Tetleroyd, hy”d (68)
Tania Tretiak, hy”d (68)
Tibor Weitzen, hy”d (78)

Shabbat Shalom,
Jeff Finkelstein