Podcast Summary: Apple News Today

Episode: How a mass shooting shook Australia’s Jewish community

Date: December 15, 2025
Host: Gideon Resnick (in for Shumita Basu)

Overview

This episode centers on the devastating mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia, where two gunmen targeted the Jewish community, resulting in at least 15 deaths and dozens injured. The show explores the impact on survivors and the wider Australian and global Jewish community, underlining the unprecedented nature of the attack given Australia’s strict gun laws. The episode also briefly covers ongoing peace talks to end the war in Ukraine and other news.

Mass Shooting at Hanukkah Celebration in Australia

Main Storyline

• Incident: Two gunmen (a father and son) opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, Sydney, with over 1,000 attendees (00:05–01:10).
• Casualties: At least 15 killed, dozens injured—victims include a local rabbi, a Holocaust survivor, a French citizen, and a 10-year-old child (03:00).
• Response: One suspect dead, second in custody and critically injured (01:10).
• Community Impact: Deep sense of trauma, fear, and disruption of a key cultural event.

Notable Quotes and Moments

• Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

  “This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith, an act of evil, anti-Semitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation.” (00:50)

• Eyewitness Arson Ostrovsky:

  “There were hundreds of people, children, kids at a festival playing. And then all of a sudden it's absolute chaos... My only concern was where are my kids? Where’s my wife? Where's my family?” (01:30)

• Unnamed Eyewitness:

  “I just ran, grabbed my kids and just ran down to the beach and hid behind the wall. My wife and two other children actually ran a different direction and were hiding somewhere else... It was just a terrible event for everybody.” (01:54)

Heroism Amid the Tragedy

• Ahmed Al Ahmed Kai:
  Footage showed Kai disarming a gunman, risking his own life; he was shot and hospitalized.
  NSW State Premier Chris Minns:

  “That man is a genuine hero and I've got no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery.” (02:38)

Community Devastation

• Alex Rivchin, co-CEO Executive Council of Australian Jewry:

  “This was always the kind of jewel in the crown of the Jewish communal calendar... Now it’s ended in a massacre on the beach in body bags and corpses. Tomorrow we'll be burying the dead... it's difficult to imagine how we'll ever be able to celebrate again.” (03:32)

• Unnamed Rabbi:

  “The Jewish people, from the days of the story of Hanukkah... our light has not been dimmed and we will continue to light our candles and to stand strong and to stand very tall and proud.” (04:13)

Broader Context and Comparisons

• Deadliest Since 1996:
  The attack is the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since the Port Arthur massacre (03:00), after which strict gun laws were implemented.
• Resilience:
  Despite the horror, the Jewish community expresses determination to carry on traditions and not let fear or hate prevail (04:13).
• Global Solidarity:
  National Menorah lighting continued in Washington D.C. as planned, symbolizing continuity and unity (04:32).

Related News: Ukraine Peace Talks

Key Developments

• High-Stakes Negotiations:
  Diplomatic efforts intensify in Berlin involving the US, Europe, and Ukraine, with the White House’s special envoy present. President Zelenskyy is willing to forego NATO aspirations for strong security guarantees (04:32–06:05).

• Lawrence Norman (Wall Street Journal reporter):
  Discusses the complexity and internal divisions among the West:

  “The reason that they keep having rounds of negotiations... is because Ukraine and Europe do not feel that the United States is pushing the Russians to accept a deal that would be reasonable, fair for Ukraine.” (06:17)

• President Trump (on Ukraine):

  "It's not easy with Russia because Russia has the upper hand, and they always did... at some point, size will win." (06:55)

• US & European Stance:
  The US has contributed over $100 billion to Ukraine’s defense but is seen as pressuring Ukraine towards a quick resolution, raising European concerns about durability and fairness (07:39; 07:53).

Other Headlines

Brown University Shooting (Providence, Rhode Island)

• Incident: Two killed, multiple injuries after a shooter entered a classroom during a review session (08:20–09:28).

• Witness (Joseph Aduro, TA):

  “He came in, pointed the gun and then screamed something... then he just started shooting right after that.” (09:28)
  “Who knows if I didn't duck, maybe I'm not here today.” (09:58)

• Impact:
  University cancels remaining exams, with students traumatized and sheltering in place (10:22).
  Audio of police entering the library captures the chaos (10:39).

Historic Washington Floods

• Assessment begins after major damage, with more rain on the way (11:05–11:25).

NFL and Entertainment Update

• Return of Philip Rivers:
  44-year-old quarterback comes out of retirement for the Colts; throws 120 yards, a TD, and an interception in a loss (11:40).
• Dick Van Dyke Turns 100:
  The comedy icon celebrates a milestone, reflecting:

  “The funniest thing is it's not enough. A hundred years is not enough. You want to live more, which I plan to.” (12:30)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Australia Hanukkah Shooting: 00:05–04:32
• Ukraine Negotiations: 04:32–07:53
• Brown University Shooting: 08:20–10:22
• Other News: 11:05–12:40

Episode Takeaways

• The Sydney Hanukkah mass shooting is an unprecedented tragedy for Australia’s Jewish community and the nation at large, shaking a sense of safety long preserved since major gun reforms.
• Survivors and officials articulate both horror and resilience, while individual heroism like that of Ahmed Al Ahmed Kai provides glimmers of hope.
• Broader international stories—such as peace talks in Ukraine and another campus shooting in America—underscore a world grappling with violence and the search for security.

This episode captures moments of heartbreak, bravery, and enduring faith amidst crisis.