Across Australia — and as far as London, Turkey and Vietnam — people lit candles and held a minute’s silence at 6:47pm on Sunday to honour the victims of the Bondi attack, one week on.
We asked our readers how they had honoured the victims and got hundreds of responses, showing reflections were deeply personal.
Some lit candles, others scattered flowers, prayed or sat peacefully in nature.
People spoke of their sadness for the victims and their families, their compassion for the Jewish community and the need for world peace.
Here are some of the reflections we were sent.
Candles glow across the country
Krista in Hobart said she was caught up in the terror attacks in London in 2005 and is in deep shock that such an attack occurred in Australia.
“I have lit a candle at 6:47 and stood for a minute with my head bowed, reminding myself to find moments in my life where I can show others care and support.”
Krista from Hobart lit a candle at 6:47pm. (Supplied)
Robyn in Shepparton, Victoria, lit a candle, observed a minute’s silence and shed a tear.
Robyn lit a candle in Shepparton, Victoria. (Supplied)
Several contributors expressed solidarity with Jewish friends and communities, noting fear and the need for security at synagogues and public events.
Siera in Brisbane lit a candle with her children.
“My husband is Jewish and attending the event in Brisbane, but was worried about security, so did not want his family to come,” she said.
Cindy from Geelong lit a menorah that she had made after she visited Israel some years ago.
Heike, on the New South Wales coast, lit nine candles to represent a menorah and listened to the sounds of the ocean.
Heike lit nine candles in Vincentia, New South Wales.
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Steve in Charleville lit a citronella candle under the outback Queensland skies.
Steve lit a candle in Charleville, Western Queensland. (Supplied)
Others honour victims with flowers
Cathy from Melbourne created native flower images for her candles.
She said they were “symbols that this attack was on the people at Bondi and all of us”.
Cathy in Melbourne used candles with native flower images to remember the victims. (Supplied)
Jen from Far North Queensland headed for the beach, along with a friend who was in Bondi last Sunday when the attack began.
“She ran away and thankfully was not hurt,” she said.
“She got some flowers earlier today that she threw into the ocean. Now we are just sitting on the sand quietly.”
Jen reflected on the Bondi attack on Holloways Beach, Far North Queesnland. (Supplied)
People reflect around the world
Many wrote to us from overseas.
Diana from Sydney is living in London and has lit a candle each evening this week.
Diana in London has been lighting a candle in her window every evening this week.
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Susan from Wollongong lit candles with her family while on holiday in Vietnam.
“My partner was getting a tattoo at 2:47pm, which was 6:47 AEST, and had to explain the situation to the tattooist, a sensitive and lovely man who offered his condolences,” she said.
Julie from Perth paused at 10:47am local time while on her family holiday in Turkey.
Communities come together
Religious, sporting and local communities came together to remember the victims.
James, a Catholic priest from Camden in Sydney, held a vigil at the church attended by 250 people.
“We don’t have a menorah, but we used our church candles to recreate its nine-stemmed light,” he said.
“We lit candles for the 15 victims, read from the Hebrew Scriptures, sang songs, and wrote prayers or messages of hope to lay at the altar.”
Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs Baseball Club held a minute’s silence for the Bondi victims.
Chantelle in Sydney captured the minute’s silence at the Eastern Suburbs Baseball Club. (Supplied)
A candle-lighting ceremony and a minute’s silence was held in the small coastal town of Lennox Head, New South Wales.
Kiri captured the minute’s silence held at Lennox Head, New South Wales. (Supplied)
People ask for world peace
Several respondents linked their grief over the Bondi attack with humanitarian concern for Palestinians and the people of Gaza, asking that the circle of compassion extend across communities.
“Every night since last Sunday, my young daughter and I have lit our candles to shine the light of peace,” said Amelia from Queenscliff in Sydney.
“We have prayed for all people across the world to live in peace.”
Claire in Sydney went to the Bondi Pavilion to support the lighting of the Chanukah candles.
Claire in Sydney went to the Bondi Pavilion to support the lighting of the Chanukah candles. (Supplied)
“We’ve put our arms around each other, all of us strangers and we have sung together and listened together,” she said.
“This has truly inspired me to do more acts of kindness, even the most simple acts help to make the world better.”