We will not let fear dictate our future
Time stood still. Our surroundings went mute. The overwhelming fog of confusion, failing to mask what we already knew; this was different.
We all remember sitting glued to our screens. In disbelief. Time stood still. Our surroundings went mute. The overwhelming fog of confusion, failing to mask what we already knew; this was different.
Reports of terrorists rounding up Jews in their kibbutzim. In their homes. Images of white pick-up trucks with machine guns driving through the streets of Sderot.
The helplessness. The incredulity. What happened to our impenetrable fence? What happened to our powerful defence force? What happened to the promise that we would never be helpless victims again?
For days, the fog persisted as the death toll climbed. Numbness took over.
We did what Jews do. We gathered – at shules, in parks, in homes – because being together was the only thing that made sense. Surrounded by others who felt the same whirlwind of emotions: desperation, grief, existential dread, but also love and an undeniable need to act. To do something. Anything.
October 7 was more than an act of terror. It was the manifestation of our worst nightmares. In those hours, the world reminded us of an ancient truth: the hatred of Jews never truly disappears. The pogroms of the past, the slaughter of innocents – women, children, the elderly – just for being Jewish, were not confined to history books. They were, again, a brutal reality.
For many of us, it shattered our sense of safety. We felt foolish. Naive. We had been taught, by our elders, that “in every generation they rise to destroy us.” Yet, we believed our generation would be different. That we could live in peace among the nations. But we were wrong.
Yet, out of this vulnerability, the legendary strength of our people emerged. The same strength that rose from the ashes of the Holocaust to declare independence and win a war against six Arab armies sworn to our destruction. The strength that allows us to thrive generation after generation whatever we endure and wherever we land. The strength that survived millennia without giving up hope.
A year on, Israel is once again reclaiming its status as a nation of resilience, intelligence, and unwavering defence of its people. In our community, inspiring new organisations, groups and voices have emerged, giving shape to our collective need to be seen and heard. Our community has gained a vibrancy and depth far greater than a year ago. Now, we must build on this momentum, restoring our confidence in our ability to help shape Australia into a place where our people – and all people – can continue to live and thrive for generations to come.
In the face of the hostility we see, it’s tempting to disengage from the world, to shrink back. But that’s not who we are. Our contributions to society – whether here in Australia or globally – are woven into the fabric of every industry, every culture. We are not a people who hide. Those who wish to marginalise us would love to see us shrink. But we don’t. We rise.
A strong and proud Jewish people, depend on a strong Israel. This is the essence of Zionism. This is the lesson of October 7. Without Israel, the Jewish people stand exposed. That day reminded us that Israel is not just a beacon for Jews – it’s a shield, a sanctuary in service of humanity. The place that ensures we never face annihilation again. Yes, Israel has critics. There are debates to be had about its policies, and rightly so. But the right of Israel to exist, to defend itself, is not up for debate. Our survival is not negotiable.
Being strong allows us to hold on to our humanity. We see the suffering on all sides of this conflict, and we feel it deeply. Innocent Palestinians and Lebanese are trapped in the grip of terrorist organisations that use them as human shields, turning their suffering into a weapon of war. We mourn for them too, because it is core to who we are as Jews. But peace will never come from terror. We cannot allow terrorists to use their own people’s pain as a strategy to attack Israel without consequence. Those who truly seek peace recognise that Hamas and Hezbollah are the greatest enemies of the Palestinian and Lebanese people, not Israel.
As we approach this anniversary, we must also look forward. The challenges are many. Antisemitism has crawled back into the open, dressed in new clothes but carrying the same old hatred. Yet this fight isn’t just for Jews or for Australia. It’s for the soul of Western society itself. For democracy. For freedom. For human dignity. To stand against antisemitism is to stand for these values, which bind our world together.
October 7 will forever be a day of tragedy. But if there’s one lesson we carry with us, it’s that we will not let fear dictate our future. We will not allow those who wish to erase us – whether through violence or silence – to succeed. We will stand, with our history in one hand and our future in the other. Because we are still here. We remain proud Zionists. And we are not going anywhere.
Alon Cassuto is CEO of the Zionist Federation of Australia.
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