Some individuals have indicated that it is poor timing to advocate against the death penalty in the wake of the Bondi Beach Hanukkah massacre. The thousands of members of “L’chaim! Jews Against the Death Penalty” feel otherwise. On the contrary, as past experience and history have tragically taught, there is no more appropriate time than now to ensure that members of the Knesset in Israel vote against the abominable bill before them that calls for the death penalty for terrorists.

The desire for vengeance is understandably visceral against those who would carry out such antisemitic terror attacks as the slaughter on October 7, 2023, in the Gaza envelope and on December 13, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. The horrific massacre at Bondi Beach has, as expected, led to renewed calls for the death penalty for terrorists in Israel and across the world. One commenter on Facebook wrote: “Israel, Australia, the United States, and France should adopt a mandatory death penalty for terrorism. Just like Saudi Arabia has laws against drug use and apostasy. Especially France after Charlie Hebdo/Bataclan/Nice attacks, Australia after the Bondi Beach attack, Israel after Oct 7 2023, and the US after the Thanksgiving 2025 Washington shooting. From trial to public hanging, it’s supposed to be 10 weeks.”

If left unchecked, such irrational, overpowering feelings could bring moral disaster. Jewish sources time and again teach that in a moment of irascibility, one can do or say things that one may regret for a lifetime. All spiritual traditions preach similar approaches to anger and the desire for........

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