Strength in unity is our greatest asset
Communal gatherings this week reinforced our unity, resilience and global support in the face of rising hate.
The just-released Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) antisemitism report makes for sobering reading.
In 12 months, 1654 incidents. An increase in arson, firebombing and targeted attacks. Homes, cars and businesses targeted. Abuse, graffiti and threats. Incidents at universities, in the arts, in schools and in workplaces.
And hate masquerading on Australia’s streets, showing that an evil that once hid shamefully in the shadows is now prevalent among the mainstream.
But none of this is news. We don’t need to read in a report what we have lived.
And we are tired of it. Antisemitism is not what defines Australian Jews. It never has been and we cannot let it do so now.
We are an amazing community of proud Australians who have contributed to the country we love in a myriad of ways. It is time to harness our pride and our strength and live our lives unapologetically.
This week we have seen two wonderful examples of collective strength.
Representatives from more than 80 Jewish community organisations came together on Monday and Tuesday in Sydney for the Dor Foundation and Australian Jewish Funders Antisemitism Co-Lab.
They were informed by Special Envoy Jillian Segal on what her plans are to stem the crisis; they were inspired by University of Western Sydney chancellor Jennifer Westacott’s personal reflections on why combating hate matters so much.
Together in breakout sessions they shared their experiences, heard each other’s ideas and were enriched by leaning on each other’s expertise.
The overwhelming message was that we are united and we are strong. AJN representatives who attended left inspired.
And while that event underpinned the strength of our Australian Jewish community, the second event – a meeting of leaders of the J7, the seven largest global Jewish communities outside Israel – reinforced that we are not alone.
Just as we lean on one another, so too we can lean on our Jewish brethren from around the world. They are here for us as we are for them.
That Australia was chosen to host this prestigious meeting demonstrates the high regard in which we are viewed by global Jewish leaders.
And that is because of our strength when we are together. That strength is our greatest asset. It is time to use it.