‘Bondi Beach terror assault exhibits one factor – the time for platitudes is over’
In the wake of the horrific terror attack on Sydney’s Jewish community, the Daily Star’s Adam Cailler, who is also Reach PLC’s Jewish Network chairman, has a plea for anyone who offers platitudes
Today is the start of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah – one of Judaism’s happier festivals. We light candles, we eat doughnuts, we sing songs and we give gifts.
Nothing harmful about that, right? Well, that didn’t stop two terrorists launch a horrific attack on Jewish people attending a public candle lighting at Bondi Beach in Australia. There are now at least 12 people dead because they just wanted to celebrate a happy festival as part of a community.
I, too, am part of that community – as is every Jewish person around the world. While the horrific attack took place thousands of miles away, it impacts every Jewish person around the world.
My daughter attends a Jewish school in the north west of England (near the site of the Manchester attack just two months ago) and there will now be an increased police presence around the campus tomorrow. There was already on-site 24-hour security, with guards wearing bullet proof vest, 12ft ram-proof fences, cameras at every possible angle and more.
And now we’ll have police on site . . . again. And if that wasn’t bad enough, she’s just six-years-old and has had to go through SEVERAL terror drills at school. Let that one sink in.
Once more, Jews worldwide are living in fear for simply being Jewish. Children, families, parents, young, old etc are all now questioning their every moment and whether or not someone will come and attack us and try to kill us for merely breathing.
You might think that’s an exaggeration – but this is how we’ve lived for generations, and since October 7, 2023, it has only become worse.
You can go “ah, this is just about Israel,” but I assure you, it’s not. This is about those who hate Jews trying to wipe us all out once again.
Many have tried, many have failed, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned about world Jewry over the years, it’s that we will not be defeated.
The platitudes from world leaders, the messages from friends and more are all welcome, but the time for talk has long gone – it’s time for people to act, to help us, and show actual support.
Volunteer to do security at your local synagogue, reach out to your Jewish friends and physically go and check on them, or just call out Jew hate where you see it.
Platitudes are no longer good enough . . .
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