The Initial Impact and Fear of the Bondi Shooting Is Giving Way to Rage and Discord. We Must Seek Out the Light.

As the nation winds down for a customary Christmas holiday during languorous days of beach and scorching heat set to the background of sporting matches and insect sounds, this year the nation's summer mood seems, unfortunately, like none before.

It would be a dramatic oversimplification to characterize the collective disposition after the anti-Jewish violent assault on Jewish Australians during the beachside Hanukah celebrations as one of mere ennui.

Throughout the country, but especially than in Sydney – the most iconically beautiful of Australian cities – a tone of immediate surprise, sorrow and terror is segueing to anger and deep division.

Those who had not picked up on the often voiced concerns of the Jewish community are now highly attuned. Just as, they are attuned to balancing the need for a far more urgent, energetic official fight against antisemitism with the freedom to demonstrate against genocide.

If ever there was a time for a countrywide dialogue, it is now, when our faith in mankind is so deeply depleted. This is especially so for those of us lucky never to have experienced the animosity and dread of faith-based persecution on this land or anywhere else.

And yet the social media feeds keep spewing at us the trite instant opinions of those with blistering, divisive stances but no sense at all of that terrifying fragility.

This is a period when I lament not having a greater faith. I lament, because having faith in people – in mankind’s capacity for compassion – has let us down so painfully. A different source, a greater power, is required.

And yet from the atrocity of Bondi we have seen such extreme instances of human goodness. The courageous acts of ordinary people. The bravery of those present. Emergency personnel – law enforcement and paramedics, those who charged into the danger to aid others, some recognised but for the most part anonymous and unheralded.

When the barrier cordon still waved wildly all about Bondi, the imperative of community, religious and cultural solidarity was admirably promoted by faith leaders. It was a message of compassion and acceptance – of bringing together rather than dividing in a time of antisemitic slaughter.

Consistent with the symbolism of the Festival of Lights (illumination amid darkness), there was so much fitting evocation of the need for lightness.

Togetherness, light and compassion was the message of faith.

And yet segments of the political landscape reacted so disgustingly swiftly with division, blame and accusation.

Some politicians moved straight for the darkness, using tragedy as a calculating opportunity to question Australia’s migration rules.

Observe the harmful message of division from veteran agitators of societal discord, exploiting the attack before the crime scene was even cold. Then consider the statements of political figures while the probe was ongoing.

Government has a daunting task to do when it comes to bringing together a nation that is grieving and frightened and looking for the hope and, not least, explanations to so many uncertainties.

Like why, when the official terror alert was assessed as probable, did such a large open-air Hanukah event go ahead with such a woefully insufficient security presence? Like how could the accused attackers have multiple firearms in the residence when the domestic intelligence organisation has so openly and consistently alerted of the danger of targeted attacks?

How quickly we were subjected to that tired line (or iterations of it) that it’s people not weapons that cause death. Naturally, each point are valid. It’s possible to at the same time pursue new ways to prevent violent bigotry and keep firearms away from its possible perpetrators.

In this metropolis of profound splendor, of clear blue heavens above sea and sand, the ocean and the coastline – our communal areas – may not seem entirely familiar again to the many who’ve observed that famous Bondi seems so jarringly out of place with last weekend’s obscene bloodshed.

We yearn right now for comprehension and meaning, for family, and perhaps for the solace of aesthetics in culture or nature.

This weekend many Australians are calling off holiday gathering plans. Quiet contemplation will seem more appropriate.

But this is perhaps somewhat counterintuitive. For in these times of fear, anger, sadness, confusion and loss we require each other now more than ever.

The comfort of community – the binding force of the unity in the very word – is what we probably need most.

But sadly, all of the indicators are that cohesion in politics and society will be elusive this long, draining summer.