'We shouldn't be afraid': Alberta senior rabbi speaks on Bondi Beach Hanukkah shooting, ahead of annual Calgary menorah lighting

After what is now considered a terrorist attack that took place during a Hanukkah festival in Australia, a leader of Alberta’s Jewish community said there is no room for this type of hatred, ahead of the 37th annual menorah lighting in Calgary on Monday.

The mass shooting took place along Bondi Beach on Sunday, where two gunmen attacked a Jewish festival, which resulted in at least 11 people dead and 29 wounded.

Executive director of Chabad Lubavitch of Alberta, Senior Rabbi Menachem Matusof, said he is heartbroken and devastated to hear about the incident, which claimed the life of a fellow Jewish leader.

“One of our 6,000 Chabad rabbis or more serving the Jewish communities anywhere, celebrating a peaceful Hanukkah celebration with 2,000 people, not hurting anyone, keeping our tradition, celebrating our holiday — and these terrorists are killing innocent people, 11 people,” he said. “This is terrible, we are broken-hearted, we are devastated, but at the same time, God forbid, we’re not broken in our spirit.

“On the contrary, our spirit is alive and well, and will only grow out of these nonsense terrorism that is unfortunately taking over the world and many are falling for it under the name of democracy.”

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With the unfortunate news of the incident, Matusof said they will be working with the Calgary Police Service, the Calgary Jewish Federation and city hall to make sure attendees are safe.

“I congratulate the city and the province for the security, for their efforts in protecting the Jewish community and every citizen,” he said. “I’m proud to be a Calgarian. I do thank them for their tremendous efforts, and I encourage everyone to attend and not to be scared. Terrorism cannot shut the world down.”

He also thanked local leadership for supporting the Jewish community during a difficult time of mourning.

“It could happen anywhere in the world, and we must stop it,” Matusof said. “Authorities and leadership must stop it. I thank them for their standing with the Jewish community. It’s not only with the Jewish community, it’s standing with the right of innocent people to live. It doesn’t matter of which background.”

Although he has no idea how this will ultimately impact tomorrow’s celebration, Matusof said this is unfortunately not the first time an incident like this has taken place.

“It happened a few years ago, right before Hanukkah in Mumbai, where again, one of our colleagues and his wife were murdered in their own Jewish centre, Chabad center,” Matusof said. “Now it happened at a menorah lighting in Australia. It’s my message and my hope that we’re going to celebrate, as hurt as we are, and that we’re going to celebrate and demonstrate unity and a message of freedom and light over darkness.”

Ahead of the annual menorah lighting at city hall on Monday night, Matusof said he is aware of the protests not against the Hanukkah celebration, but against the Israel bonds that are being raffled off for charity.

With antisemitism one of the major factors behind the shooting, he viewed the planned demonstrations as driven by the same hate, and called on the city to take action.

“And to make an issue out of that, my statement was, ‘no, it’s not against Israel bond,’ it’s not against supporting Israel, and it’s no sin and it’s not a crime to support Israel with the only democracy in the Middle East and bringing security to the world at large, but that’s a separate issue,” he said. “They don’t want us here, they don’t want us in the world period. And it is the demonstration tomorrow here in Calgary is pure antisemitism. I call upon all authorities to ban that demonstration taking place tomorrow.”

He called on the groups who plan to protest to condemn the attack that took place in Australia.

“They should all put out a statement against what has happened without any hesitation about what happened in Australia and demonstrating against what happened in Australia,” he said. “Not tomorrow, but today. And the sooner the better against what has happened in Australia and denounce terrorism. Once they will do that, then we’ll know that they’re not terrorists.”

Moving forward, Matusof wished everyone in Calgary a healthy, safe and happy Hanukkah.

“I’m not afraid, and we shouldn’t be afraid, but at the same time, security is needed unfortunately, and I encourage everyone to keep Calgary safe, the Jewish community safe,” he said. “Keep Calgary’s streets safe, because everyone will suffer if we’re not opening up our eyes. There is a letter that was published now that the Chabad rabbi, who was murdered, sent to the prime minister of Australia, asking him to keep the community safe.

“Now he’s being buried today. Very unfortunate. Canada, open up your eyes.”

The Calgary Police Service issued a statement Sunday regarding the shooting, expressing sadness and saying they will increase patrols.

“We are saddened by the tragedy in Australia, where multiple people celebrating the start of Hanukkah were killed in a terrorist attack,” CPS said.

Following the incident, Calgary police they will respond with heightened patrols, and ask anyone witnessing suspicious activity to contact police.

“The Calgary Police Service has increased patrols around synagogues and at local Hanukkah events, including at tomorrow’s menorah lighting at city hall,” they said. “We have also connected with Calgary’s Jewish community to offer our support.

“We also encourage anyone who sees anything suspicious around places of worship to contact police.”