Published: 8 October 2025
Last updated: 8 October 2025
This article is a response to A Palestinian Solidarity Sukkot needs to invite Israelis by Hannah Moshinsky.
This week marks Sukkot. During Sukkot, Jewish people are reminded that our ancestors once wandered as freed slaves and refugees, living in temporary shelters. We are taught that our neighbours did not always welcome our ancestors, but despite that, it’s a mitzvah—a good deed—for us to open our sukkahs (huts) to strangers and share shelter, food and connection. A fundamental Jewish teaching.
We belong to a grassroots collective of Jewish individuals drawing on the Sukkot story to raise funds for PARA (Palestine Australia Relief and Action) and ActionAid Australia’s Gaza Appeal. On Sunday October 12, we will gather in Naarm (Melbourne) not only to wave the lulav and etrog, but also for a meal, speeches and collective reflection on the impacts of displacement, both past and present. We have called our fundraiser a Palestine Solidarity Sukkot.
As Jewish people who vocally oppose Israel’s genocide in Gaza at a time during which most of our communal institutions have shown Israel’s military actions unconditional support, we have grown accustomed to community ostracisation. So it came as no surprise to read criticism of our fundraiser in The Jewish Independent last week.
All are welcome
Our detractor claims that, because the invitation to the event does not specifically mention them, our fundraiser excludes Israelis. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Everyone is invited regardless of their ethnicity, nationality, religion, skin colour, gender, sexuality or ability. Anyone who wants to show solidarity to the Palestinian people is welcome at our table, to share our food and our sukkah.
Comments8
Jewish person10 October at 01:18 pm
“While our detractor infers that Jewish life in the diaspora is dependent on memory, our Palestine Solidarity Sukkot is proof that it isn’t.” This is so ironic it’s a poem in itself. Clearly the authors aren’t aware (or have forgotten) Sukkot is a holiday that celebrates the land of Israel, including celebrating species of plant native to the land of Israel. I can see they either didn’t pay attention in Hebrew School or have forgotten everything.
Hayim Dar10 October at 03:46 am
Shkoach. Great to see that integrity and clear sightedness still exists in our community, and hasn’t all been buried under the layers of trauma, narcissism and self-delusion. To deny Israel’s genocide in Gaza is to betray our people’s own experience and the memories of our families who were murdered.
Matt9 October at 11:30 am
This is my understanding of what it is to be Jewish, to be a shining light among the nations, to open our tent doors as wide as Abraham’s, and to grapple with our moral responsibility (even where it’s scary and we fear or ourselves and our loved ones).
I love this idea. Kol hakavod to the organisers!
Isaac9 October at 06:56 am
I think it is timely and appropriate that, following the ceasfire agreement between Israel and Hamas, Jewish and Palestinian people try to build bridges and find a way forward peacefully together. For the diaspora in Melbourne, Sukkot is a good place to start.
Cassandra9 October at 06:41 am
In reading this, I recall Tehillim (Psalms) 133: “Behold how good and pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity”. Jews, Christians, and Muslims are all people of the book, and it pleases G-d when we are at peace with one another. Sharing a meal in the sukkah is a way to dwell together in unity, and is therefore surely a mitzvah.
I think it is also important to recognise that the path toward peace and unity is one of dialogue. Take, for example, Daryl Davis, a Black man from the USA who managed to convince over 200 white supremacists to leave the Ku Klux Klan. He did so by speaking with them and showing them that we all have more in common than we have differences.
When we sit together with people, share food, and have meaningful conversations, then we can find common ground and empathy for each other. We can lead people away from hate and toward love. The Solidarity Sukkot Dinner is an opportunity to do just that.
To those those scoff at the idea, I would encourage you to come to the sukkah and share a meal; you will be pleasantly surprised.
Rachel Sussman9 October at 05:34 am
When I read of Jewish people against the ‘genoside’ in Gaza, I have to take a deep breath… I understand Jewish people expressing sorrow for the destruction in Gaza and yes, the suffering of the people of Gaza, but to point the finger for this suffering to Israel and Israelis rather than Hamas and the people of Gaza, is a blatant distortion and betrayal.
Some need reminding who started this war and still hold hostages, who allowed itself to be ruled by a terror group, and is at least to some extend a willing complicit with this terror group.
Reminding that while there is unquestionably tragic loss of life in this war, when it comes to Gaza it is not genocide! A genocide is an intentional and purposeful murder of civilians or a people.. the only genocide committed was on 7/10 by Hamas on the people of Israel…
Reminding that lamenting the suffering of the Palestinians while disregarding the suffering of the Israelis, is being righteous in the worse way… I suggest: collect funds to restore the South and the North and to support the countless broken Israelis before – or at least alongside – collecting funds for the Palestinians.
KP9 October at 04:32 am
Once again, anti-Zionist Jews use their family’s connection to the Holocaust for political advantage. For shame. Kids, you are just Jews. You’ll learn that soon enough. The Bundists certainly did. Shove your creepy ideology and juvenile rebellion and grow up.
Dan8 October at 07:54 pm
FYI there is no “genocide in Gaza” as you state. That is a term propagated by the global HMS supporters. HMS should never have embedded itself under hospitals, schools and other civilian infrastructure in Gaza. The only genocide perpetrated was on 7/10/25. Get the story straight.