Australia Declares Bondi Beach Shooting a Terrorist Attack Amid Spike in Antisemitism
Australia labels Bondi Beach shooting a terrorist attack amid concerns about rising antisemitism.
Warning: This lesson is meant for older high school students. Please preview before showing to your students. The video contains graphic images during and after the shooting. You may choose to show just the part of the video starting at 2m:05s when PBS News Hour conducts a sit down interview with Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the nonprofit Jewish Council for Public Affairs.
Note: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
Two gunmen opened fire Sunday evening on a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach, sending crowds fleeing for safety. At least 16 people are dead, including one alleged gunman and a 12-year-old child, and 38 others were wounded. Ali Rogin speaks with Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the nonprofit Jewish Council for Public Affairs, for more.
Warm-Up Questions
- Where is Bondi Beach? (see map)
- When did the shooting at Bondi Beach take place?
- What religious event was being celebrated at Bondi Beach?
- Who were the people targeted, according to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese?
- Why has antisemitism been on the rise in the last few decades and particularly the last 10 years, according to Amy Spitalnick?
Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
Essential Questions
Amy Spitalnick says the attacks on Jewish people are part of a broader normalization of antisemitism conspiracy theories and tropes. What are ways our society can fight this normalization and better counteract antisemitism?
Media literacy: Why do you think Spitalnick included teaching people media literacy skills as a way to counteract antisemitism?
What Students Can Do
Learn more about antisemitism by conducting research online at organizations, such as the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Share what you learned with a family member, classmate or a friend.
Additionally, explore the collection of resources below for more.
Countering Antisemitism: Lessons and Resources
Explore classroom-ready lessons that help students understand antisemitism, examine current events, and build respectful, inclusive communities.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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