Sydney’s close-knit Jewish community has been left reeling in the aftermath of Sunday’s terror attack, with several local businesses temporarily closing as owners and staff grapple with the psychological impact.
Some, like Lox in a Box, have also reported a wave of “negative reviews” in the days following the attack, adding to the stress for business owners.
Avner’s Bakery, known for its bagels, babka, challah, and traditional pastries, announced it would remain closed on Tuesday, with no confirmed reopening date.
“To our wonderful and supportive community, we’ll be closed tomorrow, Tuesday 16th December, and possibly for a little longer, as we try to make sense of the awful and mindless violence,” the business said in an Instagram post.
“Nothing is more important than the safety and wellbeing of our families, staff, and all of you, so we need a little time to process what’s happened and to make sure we’ve done everything possible to guarantee security.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with family and friends who’ve lost precious loved ones. Our hearts are broken, but full of love.”
Avner’s is well-loved for its commitment to traditional recipes and its welcoming atmosphere, with owners emphasising that their cafe has always been a place where patrons feel at home.
Lox in a Box, a small chain of bagel shops, temporarily closed after the attack but has since reopened.
The business said it had been “review bombed” with one-star, reviews after the tragedy.
Owner Candy posted a video message about the moment they learned of the attack.
“We literally left mid-service. Everything was on, orders were coming in, and people were sitting in our restaurants, and we heard the news, and everybody just fled, dropped what they were doing, and ran, and tried to get to a safe place,” she said.
Candy also announced that Lox in a Box would give out free latke to anyone visiting their stores on Hanukkah as a gesture of solidarity and community support.
In separate posts, she shared how the aftermath of the attack affected her business.
“Went to bed heartbroken and completely devastated. I couldn’t sleep, I stayed up all night thinking about what we can do as a Jewish business to give back to our community,” Candy said.
“My alarm went off, I had to gain all my strength and courage to get out of bed this morning and show up for my team and community.”
The post included a screenshot of one-star Google reviews, which are unverified and now appear to have been removed from the platform.
“This is what I woke to in my inbox … It’s so disheartening, where’s our collective humanity? anti-Semitism is not a joke … posting negative antisemitic reviews can really harm a small business like ours.”
The attack, which targeted a Jewish celebration on the first evening of Hanukkah, left 16 people dead, including the shooter, and 43 injured, making it the deadliest terror incident in Australian history.
The tragedy has shaken not only Bondi’s Jewish community but also the broader local area, with businesses taking precautionary measures to ensure staff and patrons feel safe.
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