A letter to the people of Israel

To the people of Israel,

I’m an Australian Jew, living in Melbourne, a city that is just about as far on the other end of the world as one gets from Jerusalem.

But I wanted to write you this letter to know that despite the hardships of the last year, the trauma and the war, the Jews of Australia have not forgotten about you and are thinking of you always.

I know it hasn’t always felt like people care about the horrors that you have lived through in the past 12 months, but in my suburb of Caulfield, we have a massive billboard that has been up for almost a year with the faces and names of your hostages for all to see.

I thought you may appreciate hearing that Israel was never far from the minds of Australian Jews over the High Holy Days. My synagogue was filled with 1500 people, and before the shofar was blown, we held a prayer service for the safety of the hostages and the soldiers on the frontlines of Israel. We sang Acheinu, a prayer that was composed in medieval times and is sung when the Jewish people are facing distress. I want you to know that I took my children to synagogue, and although they are small, they understood perfectly why we are praying for the safety of all people living in Israel.

I would like you to know, that in my synagogue in Melbourne, a poster of Israeli hostages greeted worshippers as they walked in the door, and many were wearing their yellow pins on their fancy suits and dresses. I want you to know that on the other side of the world, there was a rousing call from the bimah asking God to please help release the people who are still in captivity and suffering. I would like you to know, that in Australia, your situation affects our community deeply, and we think of you and pray for the safety of Israel every single day.

I think it’s important that you know that Australian Jews appreciate your sacrifices. We know that we only have the privilege of living here in Australia and being safe because you are on the frontlines.

I want you to know that Australian Jews have been tireless in their pursuits of freeing the hostages, protesting for the release of the hostages outside the Australian Red Cross, holding a rally asking why the feminist groups have been absent in protesting the rape of Israeli women and gathering for so many rallies to show our community’s support of Israel.

I know that you have been living on the frontlines, and that your children, husbands and grandchildren were missing from your holiday celebrations, but I would also like you to know that has not been easy for us here in the Diaspora, even in a faraway country like Australia. I want you to know that antisemitism is up in Australia like never before and that for the first time in forever it seems that so many don’t know what to think about a country that has been a haven for refugees.

Like so many Australian Jews, I was horrified and surprised when so many of my friends, who I had sat and conducted interfaith work for many years could not come out and condemn the murder of Israelis on October 7. Our suffering is nothing compared to what you have endured over the last year, but I think you should still know that what happens in Israel affects us also.

Lastly, I want to express my heartfelt thanks. It can feel isolating being on the frontlines, watching your children fight for the safety of the Jewish people. While we live in relative peace in the Diaspora, you face the dangers daily, enduring the nightmare we anxiously follow from afar. Please know that we do not take your sacrifice for granted. The Jewish

community in Australia stands with you, and you are deeply loved and appreciated.

Shana tova – may the coming year be good and sweet, better than the one that has passed. May it bring all our hostages home, and may we see peace.

With love and respect,

Nomi Kaltmann, an Australian Jew who is thinking of you.

Nomi Kaltmann is president of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance Australia (JOFA).