You would think, that the execution of 15 Jews in broad daylight would be the biggest permanent jolt an apathetic nation and government could receive. After all, it wasn’t as though the Jewish community weren’t belling the cat for years on this.

At the time of writing, it’s been 135 days since the surreal aching day of December 14. A short span and an eternity. It also feels a lifetime ago. For the optimists in the community, there was a sense that finally the grotesque anti Zionist and anti semitic sentiment would have its reckoning. For all the people freeing Palestine each week and in every facet of their keyboards, perhaps some self reflection. LOL as the kids say, as if.

Let’s look at the cavalcade of joy that’s ensued.

Firstly, within one to two weeks, ex Jewish politicians and the broader Jewish community led a ground swell of cross societal support for a Royal commission into antisemitism.It took the federal government three weeks to acquiesce to sustained  political pressure and agree to look into why this happened. For the more sanguine amongst us, we know why, and that we won’t really get the answer.

This Royal Commission is the very least the government could do after presiding over the environment that led to this – least not their own rhetoric and policies. Yet, the talking heads, influencers and commentators doubled down. “This is a witch hunt, the Jews have brought on the antisemitism, Gaza Israel Gaza Gaza Free Palestine”. Demonstrating the very point of course, of this call for the commission.

Naturally it also has to include investigations other forms of racism. Those ones that have also seen a more than 300 percent rise in acts of hatred on their people in 2 years, burnt places of worship and of course killings. Thats cynicism of course. 

Then mainstream newspapers decided to brazenly and defiantly print  in their broadsheets – despite widespread chiding, libelous cartoons invoking the worst tropes of Jews, Israel and control over media. That, they were Bibi’s pied piper leading the government slavishly to acquiesce to their demands. At this point I’ll remind you 15 Jews were killed for being Jews in broad daylight.

A Greek choir that was slated to sing with a Jewish choir, in a gesture of solidarity to raise money for slain Jews in Sydney as victims of anti Zionism, wouldn’t sing with Jews,well, because they’re Jews. Some of them anyway. Event cancelled.

A school montage  of celebrating Yom Haatzmaut posted on social media, had the wonderful comments of calling the kids Zionist blood sucking pigs (sic).

An Australian of the year saw it normal to shriek “Globalise the Intifada” on the streets of Sydney. This was when President Herzog visited to comfort the victims of the terrorist attack. She was barely condemned, venerated and protected widely online and although cancelled from events, ended up the victim.

Notorious anti Zionists invited to a writers festival who were cancelled and then reinstated after a writer boycott, became pseudo heroes.

We had the largest sporting code, the AFL and specifically the Sydney based club, in what was meant to be a tribute to the Bondi victims at the start of the match, beginning of the season, dared not mention the word Jew. Or anti-semitism. So as to not upset certain people.

And yes now, police wield automatic machine guns protecting Jewish events. It’s been 135 days.

The community is now busy writing submissions to this Royal Commision to tell the inquiry how bad it’s been down under. Like the evidence on Bondi Beach wasn’t enough to force wholesale change. I think we are all pretty realistic about the  likely outcomes or lack thereof. Nonetheless our community will at least be on record, telling the stories of disenfranchisement as Jews from their own country.

The reality is, even if magically, heroically the government changes, the sense of belonging has been fractured. That’s a best case scenario.  Right now the government is jetting in Isis brides who chose to leave Australia. They have no intention of changing immigration policies or the discourse that has led to where we are. All the Jew-hate and antipathy towards it are baked in. 

I had an amazing upbringing. I love this country and what it has brought my family for 4 generations. The environment, the relaxed laconic people. Democratic. Egalitarian. A proud Jewish Australian. My paranoia said it can’t last but I never imagined this. Not at this level.

How can I look at these few years, and specifically the last 135 days which should have been the ultimate wake up call, and not think, my kids simply have no future here? The golden years of ‘Straya are sadly behind us. How terribly sad.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)