Striving for balance in unprecedented times
Telling our story means bearing witness to adversity while honouring achievements that define our community.
It has been suggested to us that much of the content in The AJN of late has been of the negative variety.
Sadly, that is a reflection of the times. The past two-and-a-half years have been unprecedented days for Australian and world Jewry. Beginning with the horrors of October 7 in Israel and culminating in the massacre at Bondi, these times have tested our community like nothing before. We have seen shules firebombed, creatives doxxed, students harassed and the streets of our cities taken over by hate-fuelled mobs calling for the end of the Jewish nation-state.
Our businesses have been review bombed or literally chased out of their neighbourhoods. We have been subjected to online abuse. We have had extremist politicians bait us and trumpet antisemitic conspiracy theories, all while arrogantly thinking they can define where the line that defines hatred against Jews is drawn. Sadly, this week’s edition contains yet more examples of what we have had to endure.
Please believe us, we have not enjoyed writing about these things any more than you, dear reader, have enjoyed reading about them.
Which is why it is wonderful to celebrate something once in a while. So it was an absolute pleasure to put Australian snowboarder Scotty James’s Olympic silver medal on our cover this week.
Australia’s most decorated Olympian was aiming for gold, but his silver represents a magnificent achievement. He beat everyone in the world bar one. James is also a wonderful ambassador for our Jewish community. A proud convert, James has spoken openly about his journey to Judaism. His willingness to stand publicly as a Jew during these challenging times – when many feel vulnerable about their Jewish identity – is a source of inspiration.
His Olympic performance, watched by millions worldwide, showed that Jews will continue to succeed, compete and proudly represent our people on the global stage. That his medal was presented to him by fellow Jewish Olympian Jessica Fox was the icing on the cake.
While we document the challenges and stand witness to hatred, we also celebrate our victories and accomplishments. This is the balance we strive for in these pages. We pray for a day when the balance may permanently tilt to the latter.