In the wake of Bondi: Choosing humanity over hate

On Sunday night, when news broke of the attack at Bondi, I felt anguish, heartbreak and betrayal. To see such an act of antisemitic violence against the Jewish community unfold in Australia was unfathomable. It shook something in all of us. My most heartfelt condolences are with the victims, their families, and everyone whose sense of safety has been upended, as mine very much has.

Among the victims was 10-year-old Matilda, who had marked the first day of the Jewish Festival of Light – Chanukkah, by eating cakes and playing with animals at Bondi Beach alongside her six-year-old sister, before her life was brutally taken.

As a Jewish Australian, the news struck part of me that has already been tender for the past two years. Many in our community have been carrying a quiet, persistent fear – a sense that the ground beneath us is less steady than it once was. That Australia no longer feels like home in the way it always did.

The sharp rise in antisemitism since October 7 has left many feeling exposed in places that once felt unquestionably safe: in schools, on university campuses, online, in workplaces and in our neighbourhoods. Sunday night’s attack didn’t just wound bodies; it tore open emotional wounds that were already struggling to heal.

But I am not writing today only as a member of the Jewish community. I am also writing as a proud Australian – someone who loves this country and its values. One of those values is giving back, and philanthropy quite literally means “a love of humanity.”

When hate enters a society, none of us are untouched. We need to hold on to our humanity. Hate may begin with one group, but it never ends there. It spreads, and in doing so, it corrodes the social fabric that holds us together.

At moments like this, leadership matters. Moral clarity matters. And the philanthropic sector – a sector built on generosity, care, and a belief in the dignity of all people – has an important role to play.

We need leaders who will confront antisemitism and racism not as isolated issues, but as threats to the wellbeing of our entire society.

We need people who will speak up when harmful narratives emerge – before they become normalised.

We need communities willing to show up not only for their own, but for one another.

As we sit with the grief of what happened at Bondi, I want to hold onto the belief that this moment can be a turning point. That standing up to antisemitism, calling out every form of hate, and strengthening the relationships that bind us together is not just possible – it is necessary.

And so I offer a call to action to all of us in philanthropy:

What conversations can we influence – even the uncomfortable ones?
What organisations can we support that hold our communities together?
What moments of courage can we choose, especially when silence would be easier?
How can we use our voice, our networks, and our philanthropy to push back against hate and strengthen belonging?

If every one of us takes just one deliberate step – one act of allyship, one investment in social cohesion, one refusal to let prejudice go unchallenged – together, we can help shape a future in which all Australians feel safe, valued and seen.

This is how we honour those harmed on Sunday night.

This is how we rebuild a more cohesive, compassionate Australia.

This is how we show what a love of humanity truly looks like.

Amanda Miller is Co-Chair of Philanthropy Australia, Co-Founder of Impact Generation Partners. This is a excerpt of a speech given at the Australian Investing In Women 15th anniversary celebration in Melbourne on 16 December.

Australian Democracy Network (ADN) + Climate Action Network Australia (CANA), with the support of Australian Progress, have drafted this sector statement of solidarity for sign on by civil society organisations. Please add your organisational endorsement via this form by 9am Friday December 19.