In the wake of the terror attack at Bondi Beach that claimed fifteen lives during a Chanukah celebration, faith leaders and the New South Wales government have launched the “One Mitzvah for Bondi” campaign, urging Australians of all backgrounds to honour the victims through acts of kindness, compassion and charity.

The initiative was conceived at an emergency session of the NSW Faith Affairs Council, convened the day after the attack, when Rabbi Nochum Schapiro of Chabad House and Rabbi Benjamin Elton of the Great Synagogue responded to the council’s request for meaningful action by proposing a simple but profound request: that every person undertake one mitzvah—a charitable deed to bring light into the world.

Mitzvah, in Jewish tradition, denotes an act of moral responsibility and love for one’s fellow human being, and campaign organisers have emphasised that it also resonates with core values of other faiths and communities.

The campaign invites individuals, families, schools, community groups and organisations across New South Wales and beyond to perform and share their good deeds, such as volunteering time, donating blood, supporting neighbours, offering help to those in need or simply reaching out to someone with compassion.

The NSW government has established a portal where participants can describe their acts in honour of the Bondi victims, with submissions helping to create a visible record of collective goodwill.

Chair of the NSW Faith Affairs Council, the Right Reverend Dr Michael Stead, said the call to act with love and compassion underpins the work of faith communities and can help unite the state in a moment of grief.

Leaders from diverse religious communities have joined the call, underscoring the campaign’s inclusive spirit and the shared commitment to healing through positive action.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has voiced support for the initiative, describing it as a way to carry forward the memory of the victims by fostering a more compassionate society.

He has emphasised that kindness and moral courage are essential to confronting hatred and strengthening community bonds.

The campaign has also resonated with grassroots participants, including individuals and small businesses embracing opportunities to serve their communities in tangible ways.

By encouraging everyday acts of goodness to honour those lost at Bondi, the One Mitzvah for Bondi campaign aims not only to commemorate the victims but to catalyse a sustained movement of unity and empathy across Australia.