Amanpour Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann on Australia Shooting Tragedy
Dec 15, 2025
Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann is a prominent Melbourne rabbi discussing the aftermath of the tragic Hanukkah shooting in Bondi Beach, Australia. He shares the impact on the Jewish community, personal losses, and the need for stronger protections against rising antisemitism. Senator Andy Kim opens up about his family's experience with Alzheimer's, advocating for a national conversation on caregiving and the emotional and financial strains on families. The episode highlights communal solidarity and urgent calls for policy solutions.
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Personal Losses Within A Close-Knit Community
- Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann knew several victims personally, including a mentoring student and a rabbi she had spoken with weeks earlier.
- She described deep interconnection between Melbourne and Sydney Jewish families, magnifying the community's grief.
Hanukkah As Communal Resistance
- Rabbi Kaltmann framed Hanukkah as a call to push back darkness by increasing light and communal resilience.
- She said lighting the menorah with family was an act of remembrance and resistance amid trauma.
Antisemitism's Unique Threat Must Be Heard
- Kaltmann warned that rising antisemitism isn't ordinary racism and must be taken seriously by leaders.
- She said dismissing Jewish fears as hysteria has real consequences, evidenced by attacks on synagogues and schools.