Don’t cancel Hanukkah events

Unfortunately, the writing was on the wall. Over the last few years, Australia has turned from a paradise to a nightmare for parts of the Jewish community. Synagogues were burned, Jews were attacked and harassed on the streets, and now they have been targeted for murder at a public religious event.

The Australian government has allowed far too much antisemitism to pass in the public sphere, including incendiary expressions of anti-Israel rhetoric, and this has made the situation extremely volatile. Some might have read this as permission to hunt Jews openly in broad daylight as we see today.

We call on the Australian authorities to not just hunt down all those involved but take a far stronger stance against incitement against Jews in all of its forms, from the far-Left, the far-Right, and Islamist preacherThe moment for action has long passed.

There will be a reflex to cancel Hanukkah menorah-lighting events around the world. This is wrong and sends a message to the Jewish community that you cannot be protected and must hide. We call on leaders around the world, along with law enforcement agencies, to ensure that the annual celebratory Hanukkah events continue with adequate protection and the support and attendance for all, Jews and non-Jews alike.