Nine Points
The evening was graced by four speakers, all non-Jewish, each bringing a unique perspective to the challenges and opportunities facing the Jewish people today.
On the evening of December 22, 2024, the Mizrachi Synagogue in North Bondi hosted a landmark event titled “The Empowered Jew.” Founded by Chavi Israel, this not-for-profit organisation is dedicated to equipping members of the Jewish community with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to advocate effectively for their heritage and Israel. Chavi, a Jewish Studies Educator at Moriah College, has channelled her passion for Jewish empowerment into creating a platform that fosters education and engagement.
The evening was graced by four speakers, all non-Jewish, each bringing a unique perspective to the challenges and opportunities facing the Jewish people today. Shoshana Eisner, an esteemed community leader, served as the Master of Ceremonies, guiding the evening with poise and purpose. It was an honour to be invited to participate in this event and deliver a speech, titled “Nine Points;”
Australians, esteemed members of the Sydney Jewish community, ladies and gentlemen, good evening. I have nine points.
One: There is no precedent in human history where the challenges of the 1930s, or what we are witnessing in Australia today, miraculously fix themselves. Quite the opposite. Resolution demands leadership and resolve. For those who read the Australian Jewish News or have visited my website, you already know my thinking here. Things will worsen further before they begin to improve. But improve they will—through our actions and on our shoulders.
Two: The people who threaten you and your children also threaten me and mine. The world in which we live is known to the family and loved ones of poor Lee Rigby; and by those Israeli soccer fans set upon in Amsterdam in a pogrom in November 2024. Me must not fail to recognise the zeitgeist, the spirit of our time.
Three: We will win in the end. If we are not winning, it is not the end. Remain of good spirit and continue to burden-share.
Four: The antisemitism sweeping through Australia and the western world is not just a Jewish problem—it is a civilisational problem. It is an Australian problem. It threatens our shared values and our way of life.
Five: We live in Orwellian times. Where Hamas propaganda is parroted uncritically, and where 2+2 is made to equal 5. Please read or re-read Orwell’s 1984; before Australia day 2025. I quote here from my dear friend Laura Taitz; “reading George Orwell’s 1984 at school in the 80’s was uneasy for me. Part of me desperately wanted to believe that no way something like that could ever happen, and part of me knew absolutely that it could definitely happen. “1984” should have been titled “2024.” We are living in the time of ‘gaslighting and projection of Orwellian proportion’.”
Six: Institutions across the western world are buckling under the weight of dishonesty and ideological extremism. Yet truth still matters. Honesty must be our guiding principle if we are to navigate this storm.
Seven: History reminds us that indifference is a luxury we cannot afford.
Eight: There are many examples from the past that frighten, but there are also those that inspire. As Golda Meir once said, “trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life.”
Nine: The helper candle. I will not be a bystander as Israelis are gaslit and vilified. I will not remain silent as Jewish Australians are pilloried, intimidated, and subjected to violence and terrorism. I will not meekly acquiesce as the Judeo-Christian values of Australia, the land of my birth, are debased. As Ronald Reagan wisely remarked, “freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on.”
Across a 30-year military career in the profession of arms, i have learned that it is in adversity that the strength of our character is forged. It is during these times that we quickly identify those we can depend on and those we can trust. Jewish mysticism speaks of the existence of 36 hidden righteous individuals in every generation who sustain the world through their virtue.
This concept highlights the values of humility, hidden acts of kindness, and the profound impact of righteousness on the collective good. I’m on the lookout for those 36. Once discovered, I will partner and collaborate with them. In the lead up to Chanukah, my dear friend Yossi Eshed from the Zionist Council and Isra-Aid, passed me a beautiful message about the importance of lighting candles. When we light a candle, we all have “more light” and warmth. Help me spread the light and build warmth by amplifying my message and empowering me as an ambassador of light.
In conclusion ladies and gentlemen, we each have a role to play. Great burdens are best carried forward into a better tomorrow on the shoulders of the many, the willing and the able. With toil, conviction, and resolve, we will see better days. It is an honour to be here tonight speaking at “The Empowered Jew.” While I am not Jewish or Israeli, I may as well be. Because I am with you in bad times and good; until we prevail. Thank you, my dear friends. Am Yisrael Chai!
The event concluded with a shared sense of purpose, inspired by the speakers’ diverse yet complementary messages. “The Empowered Jew” exemplifies the strength and resilience of the Jewish community, united in its mission to confront challenges and empower future generations.
Colonel Michael Scott, CSC, served for three decades in the Australian Army. He has deployed to East Timor, Bougainville, Iraq, and Afghanistan and served in Israel as part of a United Nations mission. Colonel Scott is a passionate advocate against antisemitism and the co-founder of The 2023 Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to fostering coexistence and combating hate. His experiences have shaped his unwavering commitment to supporting Jewish communities worldwide. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect the positions of the Australian Defence Force or the Commonwealth Government of Australia.
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