I’m being gaslighted – and I’m too scared to put my name to this article

An online rumour claims the “Kill the Jews” shouts at the Sydney Opera House never happened. A Jewish witness shares how it feels to have the lived experience of antisemitism denied.

On Saturday October 7, as news of the Hamas massacre in Israel hit, a profound sense of helplessness enveloped me, as it did many in Australia’s Jewish and Israeli communities. It was one of the most challenging moments of my life.

My primary instinct was to stay informed and connected. I talked with worried family and friends in Israel and tuned into Israeli news channels, seeking updates continuously. As hours passed, anxiety heightened, and a growing urge to actively engage emerged.

By Sunday, concerned Australian friends and colleagues were reaching out, expressing solidarity and checking in with me. On Monday, I was offered days off from work to recuperate and on Tuesday, non-Jewish friends delivered food, so I did not need to cook.

As an Israeli who migrated to Australian many years ago, I have always felt that Australia is secure for Jews and the right place for my family. Neither I nor my partner or children has ever encountered antisemitism or hatred. Our experiences were always positive.

So, when I learned that the Opera House would be lit up in blue and white in support of Israel, and that there would be a demonstration in support of the Palestinians, I ignored the controversial communal warning that Jews should stay away and decided that I would go to the Opera House.

At the time, Israel had been the victim of a Hamas attack that killed about 1200 people and had not yet retaliated. There was no reason Jews should be targeted and the protest should have posed no threat. But I was cautious. I did not display any Jewish symbols and was accompanied by an Australian friend, with whom I spoke only English.

Arriving slightly late at the Town Hall I went straight into the crowd and heard familiar chant of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.  To someone whose family lives between the river and the sea, in Israel, this chant is always challenging. Where do these demonstrators think my family and friends in Israel should go?

But that was the least of what I was to face. After a few minutes the MC announced a minute of silence in memory of the victims in Gaza. There was no acknowledgement of the victims in Israel. As soon as the minute started, disorganised but clear chants were heard from the audience: “Aitbach al-Yahud” ('Kill the Jews' in Arabic) and “Fuck the Jews” (in English). I heard them clearly, as did others standing beside me.

For the first time since I moved to Australia, I felt a great fear: real fear for my safety and fear for our situation as a Jewish community.

I was not alone in realising the impact of these appalling chants. In my estimation, much less than a minute passed when the MC stopped the minute of silence. I believe that the chants from the audience was the reason.

I immediately left the demonstration. I was shocked by the chants I had heard, and by the sight of a Jew being arrested for carrying an Israeli flag (he was later released, police claiming he had been held for his own protection).

I realised that things will no longer be the same in Australia. Just as the massacre of October 7 had changed something deep in Israel’s psyche, the callous hatred of the demonstration in Sydney on October 9 had changed something deep in the experience of Australian Jews.

I kept my distance as I photographed the pro-Palestinian demonstration, sensing the shift in the air. The unease returned as we encountered Palestinian flag-waving demonstrators near my car at the Town Hall.

Fear hit me again when I realised there were demonstrators with Palestinian flags walking behind me. I crossed George Street twice and stopped to get out of the path of the protestors and enable them to pass. 

When I got home, I felt the need to share what I saw and heard with the Australian community and relayed the report of the chants to The Jewish Independent, who reported it the next day.

In recent days some Australia media has questioned the reliability of the reports of “Kill the Jews” chants. I know they happened. I heard them. To deny them is to gaslight my experience of antisemitism. It is in itself an antisemitic act, in its way as disturbing as the calls themselves.

When I was asked to write about my experience in response to this gaslighting, I realised I was afraid to do so. I did not want to be attacked on social media, let alone tracked down by hateful and potentially violent antisemites. I could not risk my safety nor that of my partner and children, so insisted on writing anonymously.

I still believe that Australia is a wonderful country and 'good for Jews'. A small and vocal minority will not change that so quickly. But now I also believe that there are people in Australia in whose hearts there is a burning and dangerous hatred for Jews and Israel. Ignoring that hate is no longer an option.