Amid the tragedy and destruction, Jewish people must not submit to hatred

It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since October 7, 2023. The feeling of abject helplessness, the hours of waiting as Hamas live-streamed unspeakable barbarity, the moments processing the scale of the loss, destruction and trauma. These experiences are now entwined in the DNA of the Jewish condition.

Since October 7, the Jewish community has been subjected to sinister whispers about what we do in the shadows, in the corridors of power, and in secret WhatsApp groups. I write of my hopes and fears here, so that perhaps non-Jewish Australians may better understand us, and the gravity of the moment.

One year on, as Australian Jews reflect on that tragic day, we are at a crossroads.Credit: Darrian Traynor

The events of that day and what has followed since, has reshaped our lives irreversibly. The anguish has extended far beyond the borders of Israel, as many members of the Australian Jewish community faced harassment and vilification. Suddenly, you were a pariah for expressing grief, for supporting Jewish people, for clamping down on antisemitism and for advocating fair and respectful discourse.

No other country is expected to submit to its annihilation. Of course, it is legitimate to criticise Israeli government policies. In fact, thousands of Israelis protest every day. However, that criticism must not descend into antisemitism or support for terrorism.

Often, the silence, rather than hostility, hurt the most. The progressive spaces where Jews have traditionally found solidarity became hotbeds of antisemitism. The betrayal was searing.

We have experienced a sweeping fog of gaslighting. Apparently, we are colonisers. We are not indigenous to Israel. We have no historical connection to the land. We are white supremacists. We are bad Jews because we are Zionists. We are weaponising antisemitism. We are abusing our power and influence. The charge sheet of being a Jew in Australia goes on and on.

One year on, as we reflect on that tragic day, we are at a crossroads. Was October 7 merely the latest on a continuum of human tragedy that has befallen our people over millennia? Or does it offer a broader message to our community, and to all of our society?

It is clear to me that our experience over the past 12 months has not been just about Israel or Gaza. The challenges we face are rooted in a broader ideological battle. Israel’s conflict with Hamas and Hezbollah is not about territory – it is about survival, not just for a nation, but for Western democracies.

I cannot fathom why the zeitgeist is incapable of criticising Israel without also questioning its fundamental right to exist, and not condemn the actions of terrorist organisations like Hamas and Hezbollah. What are we missing?

Despite the tragedy, I still hold onto hope. I believe the majority of Australians, including those within the Muslim community, reject extremism and desire peace. I believe that good people recognise the brutal role Hamas has played in the suffering of Palestinians, as well as the immense pain Israelis have endured.

Tragedy and destruction tend to blur our vision. At this very moment, Israeli men, women and children are being held hostage in Gaza. Rockets are raining down in northern Israel, displacing entire communities and spreading wildfire in the region. Innocent Palestinians are suffering immeasurably from the scale of loss and destruction.

Yet, amid this profound tragedy, something remarkable is unfolding. Our community has drawn closer, rekindling the ties that bind us. A renewed sense of Jewish identity has blossomed, alongside a deepened connection to Israel.

The inward reflection of the past year, though, must not give rise to a bunker mentality, and isolate us further from Australian society. The sense of betrayal we have experienced must not push us towards retreat, but inspire us to engage more fully with the world around us.

Exclusion is exactly what those who perpetuate antisemitism hope to achieve. We must resist that isolation with every fibre of our being and continue to contribute to this country, to our shared society, and to stand up, and ensure that our sunburnt country is not scorched by a vocal minority of extremists.

We cannot allow ourselves to be defined by antisemitism or by the hatred directed towards us. Instead, we must reaffirm our commitment to our faith in Australia, and to the shared values that unite us.

The fight against antisemitism is not just a fight for Jews — it is a fight that concerns us all. Silence in the face of hate is complicity; we must stand up, refuse to be silenced, and ensure that the legacy of October 7 is not one of surrender, but instead one of strength, resilience, and hope.

Jeremy Leibler is president of the Zionist Federation of Australia and a partner at Arnold Bloch Leibler.

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