When Rabbi Ari Rubin heard about the tragedy in Bondi, he knew his regional Queensland community needed him more than ever.
The small Jewish community in north Queensland of about 100 was due to mark Hanukkah in a beachside celebration, but quickly pivoted to a private gathering at a home.
“We want to make sure we continue the joy that the celebration commemorates,” Chabad of North Queensland Rabbi Ari Rubin said.
“We don’t want to let that be taken away from us.”
Even Jews thousands of kilometres away from Bondi have close personal connections to the victims and those injured in the attack.
Townsville Catholic Bishop Tim Harris joined the Jewish community at a Hanukkah event. (Supplied)
Rabbi Rubin spoke of his friend Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who also visited regional Jewish communities, who was remembered at a funeral today.
“His main goal was to spread the light of Judaism out into the world and into the public,” Rabbi Rubin said.
“In previous terror attacks, he went out of his way to be able to show that the answer to terror is not guns or violence but it’s bringing more light into the world.”
But as the only rabbi in North Queensland, Rabbi Rubin been surprised by the unexpected opportunities to spread love and light in the wake of the attack.
Read more on the Bondi Beach shooting:Sharing light on the highway
Rabbi Rubin and his family were stuck in a nine-hour traffic jam following a truck crash on the Bruce Highway on their way from Cairns to Townsville’s Hanukkah event.
As their car was stalled beside a pineapple farm in Rollingstone, an Israeli backpacker spotted their recognisably Jewish clothing while he was walking home.
Rabbi Ari Rubin and Assaf Zaban met next to a pineapple farm on the Bruce Highway. (Supplied: Ari Rubin)
The group met, shared in a traditional Jewish ritual, prayed and ate traditional food at the back of the car.
“I don’t think anyone can explain the feeling when someone gives you something in Hebrew … it’s such a high, such a good feeling … more than joy,” backpacker Assaf Zaban said.
“It’s something deep inside you that becomes happy again, the light comes on again … it was really amazing.”
It was a chance meeting Rabbi Rubin believed was given to him by God.
“He was feeling isolated because of the events that were happening in Bondi,” Rabbi Rubin said.
“In the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the highway, two Jews met.”
The road delay also allowed Rabbi Rubin to share joy with other travellers by handing out toys meant for the Jewish children in Townsville, to families with children.
Rabbi Ari Rubin handing out toys to families stuck in traffic on the Bruce Highway during Hanukkah. (Supplied: Ari Rubin)
“Clearly God put me here for a reason,” he said.
“Whatever the situation is, we want to try and make sure to spread the light instead of keeping it to ourselves.”
A home filled with joy
Though many Hanukkah events around the country were moved to private homes due to safety concerns, Rabbi Rubin said tragedy compelled more people to show up to the celebration than usual.
Rabbi Ari Rubin celebrating Hanukkah with members of Townsville’s Jewish community. (Supplied: Ari Rubin)
“Last night was really warm and there was this incredible feeling of family,” he said.
“Everyone that was there was just hugging each other and just giving each other comfort.
“It was so meaningful to be able to see so many people in the community.”
Hanukkah celebrations will continue until December 22.