Mitzvah campaign in response to the Bondi Beach shooting
One Mitzvah for Bondi is an official campaign launched by the government of New South Wales in Australia that encourages residents of the state and the nation as a whole to respond positively to the 2025 Bondi Beach shooting, which occurred in Sydney, the capital city of the state. The effort encourages individuals to make the commitment to perform a mitzvah, the distinctly Jewish principle of performing an act of kindness or charity, on behalf of a neighbour or of the community at large. The initiative operates with the support of the government of New South Wales and of religious and political leaders at the state and national level, and was developed under the auspices of the state's Faith Affairs Council.
In the days after the Islamic State-inspired terrorist attack in December 2025, in which 15 Jewish visitors were murdered during a Chabad-sponsored celebration of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah attended by approximately 1,000 people at Bondi Beach, efforts were made to craft a response that would honour the victims through positive action, rather than through the traditional approaches that include statements of condolence or heightened security measures.[1] Led by Steve Kamper, the Minister for Multiculturalism, an emergency meeting of the New South Wales Faith Affairs Council was held.[2] At the meeting, religious leaders sought to craft a response to the incident, where they were told by leaders of the Jewish community that, in addition to the "unambiguous support" from the community at large, they were seeking to have people perform one mitzvah as part of an effort "to bring some light into the world".[3]
Rabbi Nochum Schapiro proposed that the ultimate response to an act of such hatred was through acts of kindness, one person at a time.[4] The choice to use the Hebrew word mitzvah was described as a deliberate choice of Minister Kamper as a way to spread the request from the Jewish community.[1]Michael Stead, Anglican bishop of South Sydney and the committee's chair, thanked the leaders of the Jewish community for their input in developing the effort to spread the "love and compassion" that is shared across religious groups.[2]
Announcement
On 21 December, the last night of Hanukkah, more than 20,000 people attended a memorial event at Bondi Beach for the victims, at which a national moment of silence was held and the traditional menorah was lit with all eight candles. Chris Minns, the Premier of New South Wales, informed the assembled crowd about the "One Mitzvah for Bondi" project, citing the spirit of the slain Chabad rabbi Eli Schlanger.[5] Minns had spoken to rabbis who were consistent in expressing their belief that this approach was the ideal way to help the nation heal, saying that "if hatred spreads through words and actions, then so does goodness,"[4] citing the message of Hanukkah "that darkness cannot extinguish the light".[6]
Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky of Chabad emphasised that "our response is more light", and that he was encouraging people to create "more light" through positive actions, saying "we are not going to say never again, we are going to do never again."[7] Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese supported the effort as a way to "bring light into the world".[8]
A portal on the official website of the state of New South Wales asks people of "all faiths and all communities" to commit to describe the good deed that they plan to perform, seeking to "create a powerful wave of goodwill" through the collective efforts of individuals in an effort to "help unite our state".[9]
Responses
Anthony Fisher, the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney spoke in support, saying "let us bring the light of charity into the darkness" as Christmas approaches.[10] In a statement, the Australian Council of Social Service encouraged Australians to show their support through participation in the program as way to "show that love will always triumph over hate."[11]
References
12New, Moshe. "NSW Government Launches ‘One Mitzvah for Bondi’ in Unprecedented Response to Terror Attack In a first, Australian state government encourages acts of kindness to honor victims", Chabad, December 24, 2025. Accessed January 5, 2026. "The 'One Mitzvah for Bondi' campaign, announced by Premier Chris Minns at the final night of Chanukah celebrations at Bondi Beach last week, represents a departure from typical governmental responses to tragedy. Rather than offering only condolences and increased security, NSW has embraced a distinctly Jewish concept and vocabulary to unite the state in response to an antisemitic massacre.... The decision to use the Hebrew word 'mitzvah' rather than translate it was intentional and significant, said Elka Feldman. 'Minister Kamper was inspired to bring the message and mission of the Jewish people to the community of NSW.'"
↑"One Mitzvah for Bondi - NSW Faith Affairs Council", New South WalesMinister for Multiculturalism, December 19, 2025. Accessed January 5, 2026. "This expanded Faith Affairs Council was joined by two Jewish leaders Rabbi Nochum Schapiro of Chabad House and Rabbi Benjamin Elton of the Great Synagogue. When asked what our faith communities could do to help the Jewish community Rabbi Nochum Schapiro responded with two requests. One, to stand with our Jewish community and show unambiguous support. And two, do one mitzvah. An act of kindness or charity. To bring some light into the world. In light of the Rabbi’s response, the Faith Affairs Council with support from the Minns Government is launching the #OneMitzvahforBondi campaign."
12May, Natasha. "One Mitzvah for Bondi campaign fights hate with love … one small act of kindness at a time", The Guardian, December 24, 2025. Accessed January 5, 2026. "The idea Rabbi Nochum Schapiro presented to the emergency meeting of the NSW Faith Affairs Council convened by the minister for multiculturalism, Steve Kamper, was simple. It was for everyone to perform one mitzvah – an act of kindness.... The NSW premier, Chris Minns, told the vigil on Sunday, which marked one week since the terror attack, the campaign had been inspired by the spirit of Schlanger.... 'The rabbis I’ve spoken to in the last days have been very insistent that this is the best way of healing our country,' the premier said. 'If hatred spreads through words and actions, then so does goodness.'"
↑"Thousands gather at Bondi vigil; PM orders security agency review as calls for royal commission grow — as it happened", SBS World News, December 21, 2025. Accessed January 5, 2026. "NSW Premier Chris Minns has announced his government is launching an initiative called One Mitzvah for Bondi, which aims to spread light through acts of goodness. He concluded his remarks by saying: 'We can't cure hate with hate. And the lesson of Hanukkah is not that there is no darkness, it's that darkness cannot extinguish the light. So be the light in the world, and may the memories of those who've been lost be a blessing to all of us.'"
↑"Sydney lights Hanukkah candles in honor of Bondi victims, introduces 'mitzvah' campaign", The Jerusalem Post, December 21, 2025. Accessed January 5, 2026. "NSW Premier Chris Minns announced that after a meeting with the rabbinical leadership of Sydney, the state government was collaborating in a 'mitzvah' campaign, inspired by the spirit of Schlanger. A NSW government 'one mitzvah for Bondi' portal was opened for Australians to submit their good deeds in honor of Bondi victims."
↑One Mitzvah for Bondi, New South Wales. Accessed January 5, 2026. "We are calling on people of all faiths and all communities across NSW, to come together in the wake of the terrorist attack at Bondi on Sunday, 14 December 2025, and help unite our state."
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