Terror Comes To Australia

I was in Jerusalem. It was Sunday morning our time when the news of the heinous and terrible terrorist attack sent shockwaves throughout the civilised world. I was in a small Chabad shtiebel in the Shaarei Chesed neighbourhood when the news came through.

Sitting amongst the congregants were two Sydneysiders: Chazan Yehoshua Niasoff and the Israeli Chabad shaliach of Rose Bay, Alon Chazi. We were all shell-shocked, quietly staring at our phones. I was speaking live with Miri, who informed me that our own Chanukah by the Sea celebration had been disbanded and hurriedly evacuated.

The other congregants spoke softly and said in one voice: “Come live in Israel - it is the safest place in the world.” That is the Israeli paradox - hope born in fear. They are living through an 802-day war and still hold fast to that belief.

How Israel copes with terrorism, death, carnage, and repeated attacks is perhaps a lesson in how we in the Diaspora may one day be forced to cope ourselves. Who would have imagined that terror on this scale would reach our distant shores in Australia?

We were once called the lucky country. Even after I said, in a High Holy Day sermon, that we were no longer the “happy country,” I never imagined that violence would arrive on our island continent. I never imagined the horror we would witness.

Rabbi Ulman, at the funeral of his son-in-law Rabbi Eli Schlanger, said that this was our October 7 moment. Our 9/11 moment.

I wish long life to Rabbi Ulman and his wife, Shternie. Their community has been shattered. Many of the victims are from the Russian Chabad community of Bondi. Words are inadequate. We can only stand with them in grief and prayer.

A fund has been established to support the community. If you are able, please give.

We are all feeling many emotions. All of them are real. Fear. Anger. Grief. Confusion. Sadness. They coexist, and they weigh heavily.

I have often said that the Jew cries with two eyes, one for tears of sorrow and one for tears of joy. Today, those tears feel closer than ever.

If you feel unsettled or conflicted, know that this is human. Do not fight the feeling. Sit with it.

Our response will not be silence. It will be resolve. We will respond by strengthening our Jewish lives, our commitments, our communities. We will bring light quietly, firmly, and without apology.

Israel knows that she must rely on herself, on her spirit and belief. It is a solitary voice, but it is strong. And it endures.

I thank those in Australia, Jewish and non-Jewish who have reached out with kindness, words, and gestures of solidarity. It reminds us that decency still exists.

I still believe in humanity. Even now.

Am Yisrael Chai.

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Day 802 in Gaza

One body still remains in Gaza: Ran Gvili.

Israel has signed major defence agreements with Germany and the UAE. History is complex and painful, and the world remains deeply paradoxical.

Israel is still at war.

The price of victory is high.

It hurts.