Events highlight contrast of fear and hope

Two events last weekend have given the Jewish community both cause to be concerned and a reason to celebrate and to hope.

On Sunday afternoon in Melbourne, a mob of 5000 or more marched from the city to St Kilda accusing Israel of genocide and calling for its annihilation. Jewish counter-protesters were verbally abused and then ignored when they tried to state their case.

What was especially concerning was that many of the anti-Israel protesters were everyday mums, dads and grandparents, many likely unaware of the complexities of a conflict thousands of kilometres away. That they could have been so easily hoodwinked into supporting such a hateful cause is most disturbing and suggests that clearly, more needs to be done to make our argument heard in the “reasonable centre” of Australia.

But then earlier on Sunday, we had reason to be inspired.

Yuval Raphael, who survived the Hamas massacre at the Nova festival by hiding under dead bodies, strode the Eurovision stage with grace, beauty and confidence – winning the hearts of the world in the process.