A sunrise crowd gathers at Bondi Beach in consolation and defiance after a massacre

Sydney – Thousands of people returned to the beach on Friday to celebrate the loss and try to heal through a sense of community.

a full day before the inauguration, after 15 people were killed in a mass shooting fuelled by anti-Semitism on Sunday at Australia’s famed Bondi Beach.

In a hastily organised event, people gathered shoulder to shoulder on the ancient crescent of sand at Bondi in an expression of solidarity among Sydney residents and support for the Jewish community and then formed a giant circle in the ocean.

Police reopened parts of the beach.

Police reopened parts of the beach on Thursday, marking the beginning of a comeback for one of the country’s most beloved destinations five days after two shootings.

An attack on the Hanukkah celebration in a park near the coast resulted in the deaths of 15 people.

With questions rising about whether Australian Jews were adequately protected from the threat of attack and fears of a backlash against Muslims, armed police officers stood guard outside synagogues and mosques in Sydney on Friday.

Strangers hugged and cried during the morning remembrance. Some stood in prayer near fluttering remnants of crime scene tape and discarded shoes as people fled in fear of gunfire.

Those involved in the siege at sea observed a minute’s silence for the dead, the injured, and those in danger of being saved.

Life also began to return to normal on the sand and boardwalk, where people jogged, walked dogs and drank coffee while humming Everyday life on Bondi Beach.

Australians are heartbroken by the attack in a country where mass shootings are rare and where most people take pride in their ability to live together.

Many people were attempting to cope as usual, waking up early, putting on swimsuits, grabbing surfboards, and heading to the beach.

Some beachgoers expressed a fervent wish that Australia’s comfortable and friendly lifestyle would continue uninterrupted.

“I’ve grown up here my whole life,” said swimmer Jack Hobbs, 22. “Today is a reminder of the amazing people we live with and what this community is built on.”

In the days following the attack, Australians celebrated those who later helped or put themselves in danger to save lives.

In a land repeatedly affected by wildfires, floods and other natural disasters, resilience is built by coming together during difficult times.

Many have embraced the stories of heroism that emerged after the shooting.

Ahmed Al Ahmed An Australian Muslim store owner, who was born in Syria, tackled and disarmed one of the two gunmen before he was shot and wounded by the other.

“It was a good day; everyone was celebrating with their children,” Al Ahmed said from his hospital bed in a video posted on social media on Friday. “They deserve to enjoy it, and it is their right.”

His message, he said, was “for all human beings to stand together.”

Australia is “the best country in the world,” Al Ahmed said. He raised a fist and said in a low voice a phrase that aroused national pride among Australians everywhere: “Australian, Australian, Australian.”

Al Ahmed’s remarks reflected a national mood of solidarity, with the rays of a menorah shining on the sails of Sydney’s famous Opera House and city residents lining up for hours to donate blood.

In a national record, almost 35,000 donations were made and more than 100,000 appointments booked since Monday, according to Lifeblood, a branch of the Australian Red Cross.

The families of three Jewish individuals who lost their lives while attempting to halt the massacre are struggling to cope with their sorrow. Reuven Morrison and Boris and Sophia Gurman also celebrated his courage.

But there has been a fierce debate in Australia over how to end the hateful ideologies that apparently led to Sunday’s shootings, while Jewish leaders have spoken of their sadness and anger that this horror was able to unfold.

“There are many leaders here from different parts, trying to generate political capital,” said Andrew Stephen, standing near the beach where a makeshift monument of bouquets has been erected.

“But these community gatherings have been really good,” said Stephen, 53, who has lived in Bondi for more than 20 years. “People want to connect.”

On Saturday, Bondi Beach lifeguards will return six days after members of their service became first responders by running towards gunfire in bare feet and carrying first aid kits.

As the familiar sight of red and yellow flags planted in the sand to guide beachgoers returns, another symbol of life will also reappear at Australia’s most famous beach.

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Smith reported from Newcastle, Australia.