‘This is a burden you do not bear alone’

As it heralds the start of a new year, the sound of the shofar invites us all to pause and listen. And there is so very much for us to hear, beginning with your truth – no matter how difficult or confronting it might be.

The truth is that the pain Australia’s Jewish community has endured over the past year is something no one should ever have had to face. The grief that you carry is untouched by the passage of time. I know that it will be felt around the Rosh Hashanah table, and in synagogues across the country.

Yet what will always shine powerfully is how your community responded to darkness. You have stood tall and unbowed, proud of the richness of your identity and the immense hinterland of your heritage. Importantly, you have continued to gather. You have found moments to celebrate.

That is something I was pleased to see a few weeks ago when a delegation of students from the Australasian Union of Jewish Students came to Parliament House for their annual political training seminar.

Regardless of what is going on in the world, the AUJS students turn up to Parliament House every year equipped with difficult questions and, most importantly, a drive to not only learn but to share. And every year when I meet with them, I am struck by their pride. They are young Australians who want to shape our country for the better. Not just for the Jewish community, but for everyone.

One of the most powerful responses to division is not simply to reject hatred and antisemitism, but to insist on the fullness of Jewish life. I see that whenever I speak with my friend Rabbi Ulman. He is a leader who plays a crucial role in the life of this country, and he does so with a strength of character and principle that stand firm beneath the weight of every pain that has been visited upon him.

And I have heard it in the courage and resilience shown by the hundreds of members of the Jewish community who have shared their stories with the Royal Commission. Those who came forward did more than taking on the difficult task of recalling their own experiences. They gave Australia an opportunity to listen.

Now, as the shofar sounds, I know you will be wondering: how do you begin a new chapter after the year that has just passed? Moving forward can seem impossible when the very act of reflecting and remembering carries the anchor of grief. I want you to know that this is a burden you do not bear alone.

As the first anniversary of the antisemitic Bondi terrorist attack approaches, and with it the release of the final report of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, the new year means the beginning of the hard work to rebuild a society in which every Jewish child grows up taking pride in the birthright of their identity. That work is ongoing, and it must be something we all do together.

I look forward to receiving the Royal Commission’s final report in December. As Commissioner Bell’s work goes on, so does ours.

In July, we introduced the new standards universities must meet to improve governance, transparency and action against racism. This includes requiring universities to adopt a definition of antisemitism and to improve complaints processes. The Antisemitism Education Taskforce has been working throughout the year to ensure the education system properly prevents, tackles and responds to antisemitism in schools.

In June we launched the Social Cohesion Education Hub, an online platform that connects educators with the resources they need to address antisemitism and support social cohesion.

Through the legislative reforms we passed in January to crack down on those who spread hate, division and radicalisation, we have listed Hizb ut-Tahrir and “White Australia” as prohibited hate groups under the criminal code.

In our recent budget, we expanded and extended support to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry to enhance security for the Jewish community right across the country.

And last month, we opened the permanent Bondi Medicare Mental Health Centre. The path to recovery is a long one, and this centre will be there to support the community for years to come.

I know there is more to do. But as we move from the old year into the new, our commitment is clear. The work is not finished. We must continue standing together to build an Australia where Jewish life is cherished, valued and celebrated as a rich, bright and important part of our national story.

That is what I hope this Rosh Hashanah will represent. May this new year bring moments of peace and renewal. May you find comfort in your community. Above all, may you find joy. Shana tova u’metukah.

Anthony Albanese is the Prime Minister of Australia.