Community Resilience in the Face of Terror: Responses to Recent Attacks

On Thursday evening, Rabbi Netanel Avitan, an educator at a hesder yeshiva in Jaffa, was attacked while walking along Yefet Street. The assailant reportedly lunged at him while shouting “Allahu Akbar.” Following the incident, police initiated an investigation and began searching for the suspect. Rabbi Avitan was treated for injuries to his face and back and was listed in light condition at Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv.

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In December 2025, a terror attack at Bondi Beach resulted in the deaths of 15 individuals, prompting a significant community response. In the aftermath, Rabbi Noach Koncepolski established a new Chabad center named “Ohel Eli and Yaakov” to honor the two Chabad emissaries killed in the attack. This center serves as a hub for acts of kindness, where volunteers distribute food and assist individuals in performing Jewish rituals, such as putting on tefillin. Rabbi Koncepolski noted that the initiative aims to foster unity and kindness among all community members, regardless of their faith.

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Rabbi Yossi Friedman has been conducting daily vigils at Bondi Beach to commemorate the victims. These vigils include recitations of the Kaddish and sharing stories of the deceased, providing a space for communal mourning and reflection. Friedman emphasized the importance of addressing grief collectively, stating, “It’s important to give people a space to cry and express their emotions freely.”

The Guardian

The Bondi Beach attack has sparked a wave of solidarity from various communities, including non-Jewish individuals who have participated in vigils and expressed support for the Jewish community. Rabbi Friedman highlighted a moment where a Muslim man approached him to express solidarity, indicating a shared human experience in the face of tragedy. He stated, “That is what will heal and that is what will cure antisemitism, because we as Jews can’t do it alone.”

The Guardian

In Boston, a similar response followed an antisemitic stabbing attack on Rabbi Shlomo Noginski in 2021. The incident led to the establishment of the Shoshana and Lior Rabbinical College, which aims to strengthen Jewish life and community resilience. Rabbi Noginski’s initiative has resulted in the training of new rabbis and an increase in community outreach, demonstrating a commitment to transforming trauma into positive action.

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Local authorities and community leaders have expressed their commitment to supporting those affected by the Bondi Beach attack. The New South Wales government has initiated projects encouraging acts of kindness in memory of the victims. Rabbi Koncepolski remarked on the importance of community engagement, stating, “We start doing the things that are needed, and hopefully, with God’s help, things work out afterwards.”

Times of Israel

• “Allahu Akbar.” — Assailant during the attack on Rabbi Netanel Avitan

YnetNews

• “Friedman says it is important to address this grief, especially “here at the site where it happened”, to give people a space to cry and “express their emotions freely and not bottle it up”.” — Rabbi Yossi Friedman

The Guardian

• “That is what will heal and that is what will cure antisemitism,” — Rabbi Yossi Friedman

The Guardian

• “We start doing the things that are needed, and hopefully, with God’s help, things work out afterwards.” — Rabbi Noach Koncepolski

Times of Israel

The resilience shown by these communities in the wake of violence highlights a collective commitment to healing and unity, underscoring the importance of support across different faiths and backgrounds.

The Guardian