When Zionism prevailed

October 7 was the darkest day in Israel’s history, but in that darkness, we saw why Zionism matters.

For a moment, we saw what life without a Jewish state could look like. The robust mechanisms of the state and the IDF froze. Chaos reigned and Jews were slaughtered.

If Hamas’s 3000 terrorists had reached our cities, if Hezbollah had invaded under a barrage of rockets, if Iran had unleashed its missiles, if the West Bank had joined the onslaught, we might be telling a very different story today.

It was Zionists who rose that day. Zionists who saved the day. Zionists of all walks of life, bound by one unifying ideal and purpose: we are one people with one state.

I’ve been privileged in my role as CEO of the Zionist Federation of Australia to meet many of them, including Dr Yoaz Hendel, who returned to active duty at 48 and rallied hundreds of reservists. And Rachel Edri of Ofakim who was taken hostage in her home by five Hamas terrorists and with extraordinary calm stalled them for nearly 20 hours with cookies, coffee and conversation until Israeli forces stormed the house and rescued her and her husband. And Natalie Sanandaji who survived the Nova music festival massacre and has since become a global voice for Jewish pride and the fight against antisemitism.