Today I visited the Bondi pavilion to pay my respects to the victims of Sunday’s evil ISIS inspired terrorist attack against our Jewish community.
Before my visit, I read the article in the Courier Mail by my friend Jason Steinberg, President of the Queensland Board of Deputies.
It is a cry from the heart to all Australians.
It follows the countless warnings from the Jewish community about the explosion in antisemitism in Australia since the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023.
I quote:
“Now, we ask two things of our fellow Australians. Please do not allow our society to move toward normalising the murder of Jews.
Challenge hatred the moment it appears, whether it is dressed up as activism, ideology, or mere rhetoric, at schools, universities, workplaces, and on the street.
Speak up immediately when you see Jew hatred. Silence is no longer an option. What we tolerate today shapes the violence that we mourn tomorrow.
Finally, if you know someone who is Jewish, reach out to them. Tell them you stand with us and Australia’s way of life”
End quote.
We must listen to our Jewish community. We must act.
What does action mean?
It is now five months since the Special Envoy’s Plan to Combat Antisemitism was delivered.
It must be implemented in full.
