A parent’s perspective: ‘I don’t feel safe anymore’

Our society is broken. My perceived safe haven of living in Australia, oceans away from guns, bombs and terror has been shattered. I don’t feel safe anymore.

The incident that compels me to write publicly is the graffiti posted on the fence of Mount Scopus College, my children’s school, with the words “Jew Die”. 

The masks have come off.  This is no longer antisemitism hidden under the guise of “anti-Zionism”. It can no longer be dismissed with the retort “but we don’t hate Jews, we just hate Zionists”. These two words “Jew Die” encapsulate the chilling alienation felt by the Jewish community over the last eight months.  These two words “Jew Die” mirrors the perceived intent of the hatred directed at the Jewish community in Australia.

I’m not in immediate physical danger. But danger is lurking. It’s not long before the shackles completely come off. And I am scared what that will look like.

If I’m honest with myself, I always knew there was antisemitism bubbling under the surface.  It explains why I was always hesitant to explain to work colleagues why I only eat vegetarian food when we go out for lunch. I am not vegetarian but I only eat kosher meat. Or why I couldn’t explain why I can’t come for Friday night drinks after work - my family Shabbat dinner. On occasion, work colleagues have made jokes or snide remarks about Jewish people. Most of these I brushed off. I thought I was being overly sensitive.

But since the notorious day on October 7, Australia has shown its true colours. And rather than antisemitism being a few bubbles in a large ocean, the head of an iceberg that has emerged, with much of the hatred still submerged under water…waiting for the time to show the full extent of itself.