Am Yisrael chai
You have stared the enemies of our people in the face and made it clear that despite their hate, their threats and their intimidation, we remain Jews; fiercely proud of who we are.
We’ve reached the milestone – one year since October 7.
One could be forgiven for thinking time has stood still, so raw is the pain that many of us still feel. But alas, 366 days have indeed passed. Or 52 weeks. Or at The AJN, 50 editions.
And this very column in each of those editions has dealt with a gamut of issues, mostly ones stemming from that fateful day.
Antisemitism has been a recurring theme. Politics another as the ideological divide between our major political parties on Israel grows ever wider. Israel’s strategic challenges. Small victories such as hostage rescues. Heartbreaking tragedies like Hamas’ cold-blooded murder of six hostages in early September.
But this week, let’s talk about you.
You, reading this. Because while the brave men and women of the IDF fight to keep Israel safe and Israel’s people continue to defy the odds and dream despite the current geopolitical threats, you are what brings hope to Jews in Australia.
Each and every one of you – whether you were among the 12,000 who attended the powerful event on Monday night in Sydney, or if you set your alarm to wake up early on a NSW public holiday to attend the 6:29am Bondi Beach vigil.
Perhaps you were among the 8000 who helped to bring light to the darkness at Melbourne’s inspiring Illuminate October event. Or maybe you marched in the Victorian capital’s CBD for the hostages the previous day.
Maybe you’ve been to any of the other of the myriad of solidarity events that have taken place around Australia in the past year. Maybe you haven’t.
Maybe you’re not even reading this. It doesn’t matter. As long as you are a proud Australian Jew that has over the last year remained so, then you have successfully braved the worst tragedy to befall our people since the Holocaust and the subsequent wave of antisemitism it has unleashed.
You have stared the enemies of our people in the face and made it clear that despite their hate, their threats and their intimidation, we remain Jews; fiercely proud of who we are and what we believe. And we are united like never before.
Am Yisrael chai. The people of Israel live.
comments