I have been forced to confront the danger of apathy

October 7th marked a turning point in my understanding of Australian antisemitism. Previously, I had dismissed it as a peripheral issue, believing that if ignored, the issue would remain a minor concern. I never thought it would simply dissipate. But paying less attention to it would help. This all changed during a visit to Melbourne when I had the misfortune of needing to cross through a march organised by “sonei yisrael” (Haters of [the People/Nation of] Israel). The sight of thousands chanting for the genocide of Jewish people forced me to confront the grave danger of societal apathy. Make no mistake, the call for intifada is a call to kill Jews. And Australian society allows such action to take place without sanction. The failure to address and condemn such violence is a dark stain on the soul of the Australian nation. They must be judged for allowing this evil to rise up in their midst. Personally, this has meant spending time researching the history of Australian antisemitism, specifically, a series of incidents that took place in January 1960 (what was later deemed part of the so-called swastika epidemic). What was remarkable about that moment, some 65 years ago, was the absolute condemnation of antisemitism on the part of many Australian civic and religious leaders. Where are they now? Why are they silent? As Abraham Joshua Heschel once wrote, “indifference to evil is worse than evil itself, that in a free society, some are guilty, but all are responsible.”