At what point does one decide to move away from their place of birth because of antisemitism?

I remember October 7th so clearly, we were out for dinner with friends. As we greeted each other, we heard news that something had happened in Israel. We were aghast but reassured each other that the IDF would ensure the safety of Israel.
The following day I was glued to the media. Messages in the family What’s App came from all around the world. As Sephardi Jews, my family is scattered across many continents. My parents were born in Cairo and came here when forced to participate in an exodus. My father always said that Australia was the best place in the world to live in. As refugees, my parents and paternal grandparents arrived with a suitcase each and nothing else. They brought few items from the cosmopolitan lives they had led in Egypt. I am so proud of the lives they built from nothing. Connection with the Jewish community, ensuring their descendants knew they were Jewish. In a way, I am glad my parents are not here to see the devastation caused by university sit ins, demonstrations, graffiti and antisemitism in Australia. They would be grief stricken at this happening in their ‘lucky country.’
I digress. I felt useless, what could I do from here? We attended rallies and found solidarity and words of hope being shared. Sending footage to family in Israel told them that Israel was not alone. They responded “Thanks for the support! We are in difficult days but we will prevail, since there is no choice.” They shared when their children came home safely from the army for a break. Initially, my 83 year old aunt replied “Thanks everything will be good but it will take time.” Messages sent prior to October 7 were of family simchas. Being in touch became the most important thing. Every morning, I would wake up to check what was being said.
Going to work on the Monday after October 7 was really challenging. I work in a government school with a small number of Jewish families and staff. We came together in silence in the playground and hugged each other. We continued to check in with each other on a regular basis. My connection to these people was my Jewishness. We sought each other out, even just a look to see if we were ok. Other staff members eventually came to check in, I was heartened as I am proudly culturally Jewish. One of my staff is from Iran. She identifies as Persian and continues to be supportive. Wanting the terrorists to return the hostages and seeing how I was.
I was touched when an old colleague contacted me in May, “Still thinking of you with the awful things that are happening around the world. The rest of us have your community’s back.” Messages like this keep me balanced and hopeful.
I felt unable to celebrate anything for a long time. How could I enjoy my life when the lives of my people were so damaged. It was a type of detached trauma to the Jews of Melbourne. Has it gone away? No, it hasn’t. I felt unsure at times of my life in Australia. Illusions shattered about the acceptance of Jews in Australia. What does it mean for my future? At what point does one decide to move away from their place of birth because of antisemitism? How will we know when that time comes?
If I don’t live here, then the only other country for me is Israel.
2023 was a difficult year personally, my mother passed away as did 3 of her siblings. My mother’s remaining sibling lives in Tel Aviv, it breaks my heart when she asks, how we are in Australia, and whether we are safe as Jews.