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As the sun set over Dover Heights, Tamar Kerner stood in a clifftop park watching her fellow Jews assemble for a vigil in solidarity with Israel, its citizens and the worldwide Jewish diaspora. It was a moment of comfort after days of grief.

“I needed the support from my community because it doesn’t feel like it has been coming from many other places,” she said.

People gather for a Jewish vigil in Support of Israel at Rodney Reserve in Dover Heights.Credit: Wolter Peeters

The anti-Semitism displayed in her own city on Monday was chilling. “It scares me because it just came out so easily,” she said. “It was probably there all along, and it feels like it just reared its head overnight … they got permission to do it.”

They gathered in their thousands – 9000, according to organisers – after Hamas’ Saturday attacks brought about the bloodiest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust. It was followed by pro-Palestinian protests in Sydney that descended into abhorrent anti-Semitic chants.

Despite that, the mood at Wednesday evening’s vigil was upbeat and defiant. It began with folk songs, and a thank you to police and private security guards from NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip.

In a theme repeated by several speakers, Ossip said there could be “no whataboutism” when discussing the evil savagery of Hamas. To do so was “moral bankruptcy on the highest level”.

“We are dealing with pure evil, pure barbarity, on a scale of unsurpassed depravity,” he said. “Some individuals – including elected officials – still find it difficult to unreservedly condemn what has transpired.”

Ossip noted the slaughter of Australian grandmother Galit Carbone in southern Israel, and joined her family in mourning. He said the vigil would send a message that “though we may be far away, our hearts and our prayers are with the people of Israel”.

President of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry Jillian Segal said Hamas’ actions had shown once again it intended to obliterate Israel and its population, and lacked any concept of the sanctity of human life.

“Our world has changed. The barbarians have breached the gates. The butchery and savagery that has unfolded in Israel beggars description,” she said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns attends the Jewish vigil.Credit: Wolter Peeters

“There can be no compromise, no accommodation of these psychopaths. They must be crushed, and we must brace ourselves for further tragedy.”

The long line of dignitaries present at the event included Premier Chris Minns, federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and his state counterpart Mark Speakman, and federal Health Minister Mark Butler – representing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who attended a synagogue in Melbourne.

Minns received a hero’s welcome, praised by Ossip as “a true friend of the state of Israel and a true friend of the Jewish people”. The premier had earlier on Wednesday apologised to the city’s Jewish community for the scenes at the Opera House on Monday.

At the vigil, he acknowledged with “eternal sorrow” that Jewish people had been subjected to unimaginable anti-Semitism in their own city. “I won’t live in a state where that is allowed to happen,” he said to applause.

The vigil was organised in support of Israel, which is at war with hamas.Credit: Wolter Peeters

Dutton was also warmly welcomed as he said the acts of depravity perpetrated against Israelis in recent days “cannot be given moral equivalence with any other behaviour”.

“Hamas has a moral equivalence with ISIS, not with Israel, not with the Jews and not with people of good faith,” he said. “We need to make sure that Hamas hears a very clear message – their acts of terrorism will never be tolerated.”

There was strong applause from the crowd when Segal thanked Minns and Dutton for their support, and even louder cheers when she said those who burned the Israeli flag and shouted anti-Semitic slogans must be identified and punished with the full force of the law.

Later, attendee Dan Zed of Double Bay praised the politicians for their words, but said they needed to put pressure on Islamic leaders in Sydney to say that sort of behaviour cannot be repeated. “It needs to come from the top on their part,” he said.

Rabbi Mendy said the event showed the Jewish community would not live in sorrow. “It’s rising up above; they hunted down in death but we hunt each other in love. That’s what it’s all about today.”

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