What Does It Really Mean to Be Resilient?
Resilience is not just something we have; it is something we build and strengthen every day
We keep saying we are resilient. We call for resilience in the face of antisemitism, anti-Zionism, and anti-Israel hate that has surged into our streets, campuses, workplaces, online spaces, and just about everywhere since October 7.
But what does resilience actually mean when we are tested, again and again, by those who would prefer we stay silent or disappear altogether?
Resilience is not simply enduring hardship. It is choosing to stand up, to educate, to advocate, and to protect ourselves and our community. It is understanding that our identity as Jews and Zionists is not something to be hidden or apologised for, but something to be strengthened and lived publicly, even when it is uncomfortable.
We must be clear: anti-Israel hate is not separate from antisemitism. We can no longer pretend otherwise. It is often Jew hatred repackaged under the guise of activism. In the same way we rightly call antisemitism what it is, we must call out anti-Israel sentiment when it crosses that line, as it so often does. We saw it again in Melbourne earlier this month. This was not about advocating for Palestinians. It was about hatred of Jews, plain and simple. No cause can justify the intimidation of Jewish Australians or the targeting of Jewish students and businesses under a false banner of activism.
If we are to be resilient, we must have the courage to name what we are facing. There is no room for denial or wishful thinking. We owe it to ourselves and our children to confront this reality and act.
Resilience is not a solo act. It is a collective decision to show up for each other and to teach the truth about Israel, Jewish history, and the reality of antisemitism today. It is a daily commitment to learning, building skills, and taking action with clarity, whether on campus, in workplaces, online, or in our communities.
Resilience is in our DNA. Our people have endured millennia of persecution, pogroms, and expulsions, yet we have rebuilt ourselves each time. Today, that legacy demands we thrive, take ownership of our narrative, and empower our young people to do the same.
Throughout our history, one truth has remained: we have never been able to rely fully on governments or institutions to protect us. Our safety and continuity have always depended on ourselves, our faith, and our unity.
But today, there is a difference: we now have Israel. For the first time in two thousand years, we have a sovereign Jewish state that defends Jewish lives. Israel is more than a refuge; it is a source of pride, strength, and identity. It reminds us that Jewish resilience is not an abstract concept but a living reality, anchoring us wherever we live and empowering us to stand up for ourselves as a people.
That is what has carried us through the ages, and it will carry us now.
At StandWithUs, we see resilience in students who walk onto campuses filled with anti-Israel activists and speak the truth. We see it in community members who refuse to let disinformation go unanswered, and in parents who teach their children to wear their Star of David proudly.
We teach resilience by giving people knowledge, teaching our history and the facts about Israel so they can recognise disinformation and respond with confidence. We equip individuals to speak up, whether on campus, at work, online, or around the dinner table.
We strengthen resilience by building connected communities where people know they are not alone. It grows when we prioritise unity, collaborate, and share resources openly.
We model resilience when leaders speak out, parents teach the importance of living visibly as Jews, educators teach about Zionism without fear, and employers back their Jewish staff.
Above all, we strengthen resilience through consistent, courageous action—engaging in respectful but firm conversations, challenging disinformation, and demanding our institutions stand firm against Jew hatred.
Resilience is not just something we have; it is something we build and strengthen every day. It will keep us standing, together, with clarity and courage, no matter how loud the hate becomes.
The next time we call for resilience, let us be clear: it means education, advocacy, unity, and courage. Resilience is not just surviving; it is ensuring that we and our truth remain standing, unashamed, and unafraid to call Jew hatred exactly what it is, whether it wears the badge of antisemitism or the language of anti-Israel activism.
Michael Gencher is executive director of StandWithUs Australia.
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