It breaks my heart to write this piece. Today, the resurgence of anti-Semitism that has percolated and festered in Australia for the last two years has come to a murderous, horrific climax.

In a balmy early summer evening a few hours ago, Sydney’s Bondi beach was the scene of appalling carnage, At least 11 people are dead, and more than two dozen wounded, including two police officers. One of the gunmen is also now dead.

Fanatics, zealots and political activists who preach or abet Jew hatred must be held to account and punished – not, as they have been, treated by the authorities with kid gloves

‘This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah’, said New South Wales state premier, Chris Minns. ‘What should have been a day of peace and joy, celebrated in that community with families, has been shattered by this horrifying, evil attack.’ 

It was supposed to be a night of celebration, of good fellowship. Children, women and men gathered on the beach to start the festival of Hanukkah by lighting a menorah. It was a celebration of faith, but the gathering was also an expression of the solidarity and resilience of Australia’s Jewish community after more than two years of blow after blow against their faith, and against them, simply........

© The Spectator